2021 Elections

Likud Officials:

'Netanyahu doesn't want to be first in line to form gov't'

Senior Likud officials say Prime Minister Netanyahu wants his opponents to get first mandate to form government - expecting them to fail.

Sa'ar to Lapid: I put the ego aside, now it's your turn

New Hope chairman calls on Yesh Atid chairman to stop the process of collecting recommendations.

Election committee: No irregularities found

The Central Election Commission completed its monitoring of 2021 Knesset election - 2,696 polling stations inspected during operation.

'I hope Bennett, Sa'ar will prevent tragedy of a 5th election'

Attorney Simcha Rothman, recently elected Religious Zionism MK, says personal issues among right-wing parties preventing stable government.

Father of slain soldier to Netanyahu: Don't sit with Joint List

Father of Shir Hajaj, murdered at the age of 22, calls on PM to avoid partnering with terror supporters 'even if it serves his purpose.'

Secret negotiations channel between Shas and United Arab List

United Arab List in talks with Shas, Likud, as well as with Yesh Atid, report says. UAL chief Mansour Abbas: 'We're not ruling anyone out.'

End Netanyahu-hatred–start advancing Israel’s national interest

Netanyahu has the most voter support, while he, Liberman, Sa'ar and Bennett and their voters share common major policies and views. Op-ed.

Litzman: We are with Netanyahu, there is no question at all

Minister of Housing and Construction stresses Agudat Yisrael's support for Netanyahu: Our goal is to establish a right-wing coalition.

Netanyahu's nightmare scenario

A small possibility exists of a right-wing government being formed without the Likud.

Gantz calls on Lapid, Bennett and Sa'ar: Let's sit down

Blue and White chairman calls on fellow party leaders to hold 4-way meeting to form coalition to replace Netanyahu.

Labor leader: 'We have 61 MKs, we need to form a government'

MK Merav Michaeli, Labor chair, urges anti-Netanyahu bloc to join together to form government. 'It's not really that complicated.'

Source: Likud in talks with United Arab List

Source in United Arab List reports party is in talks with Likud, as Yesh Atid chief works to garner highest number of supporters possible.

'Lapid's attempt to form government is doing damage'

'No option to form government without Naftali Bennett being first in rotation for prime minister,' New Hope sources say.

Likud source: 'Sa'ar can have any senior position he asks for'

'Rare opportunity to form stable right-wing nationalist government, like we always hoped for,' Likud official says.

'Lapid wants a hard Left government backed by Arab parties'

Yamina officials say Yair Lapid is not interested in 'reconciliation coalition', but instead wants to build far-left government.

Arab faction leader meets with Lapid, issues demands for gov't

United Arab List chief meets with Lapid, demanding legalization of illegal Bedouin towns, freezing of law to combat illegal construction.

Report: Bloc opposing Netanyahu planning 'government of healing'

The "national healing" government will be headed by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid.

Labor chairwoman: We will likely recommend Lapid for PM

Merav Michaeli: The citizens of Israel are tired of elections. Netanyahu's opponents scored a victory, it's time to form a government.

Netanyahu to Sa'ar: I'll step down after a year

Netanyahu reportedly proposed to New Hope chairman that he join his government and assume the role of PM after one year.

Bennett meets faction leaders

Yamina chairman holds preliminary round of talks with all the leaders of the Zionist parties.

Gideon Sa'ar to Netanyahu:

'The time has come to step aside and let Israel move forward'

After Netanyahu denied 61 seats needed to form government, New Hope chief calls on PM to resign and enable Israel to end political deadlock

Report: Netanyahu looking to build coalition with Ahmed Tibi

Netanyahu confidant reportedly met with 2 Joint Arab List MKs, offering them government positions in exchange for supporting government.

The Likud takes aim at Bennett and Sa'ar

Likud looks to block formation of alternative government and is reportedly planning massive campaign 'aggressively' targeting Bennett, Sa'ar

MK Shasha-Biton: I was offered to be Education Minister

New Hope's no. 2 clarifies: We are aiming for a government with Zionist parties that believe in a Jewish and democratic state.

MK proposes outline to prevent Netanyahu from forming government

Former Minister Izhar Shay's proposal will allow for the formation of a government with right-wing and left-wing parties.

Likud: 'Bloc of change' will bring laws from Iran to the Knesset

Likud blasts the left's intention to submit a bill that would prevent a person with criminal indictments from serving as Prime Minister.

Haredi parties tell Netanyahu to work with Mansour Abbas

Leaders of haredi parties say they would support minority government with outside support of United Arab List if no way to get 61 seats.

Likud angry as 300,000 voters stay home

Anger directed at MK Shlomo Karhi, deputy chairman of the Likud election committee, over election results.

Election final results: 59 seats for Netanyahu, Bennett

Yair Lapid meets Labor leader Merav Michaeli to discuss options for building coalition to unseat Netanyahu.

Netanyahu bloc does not have enough votes to form government

Counting of double envelope ballots concludes with Netanyahu bloc still at only 59 seats even with Yamina joining them.

In fourth campaign Netanyahu secures largest-ever electoral lead

Long-serving prime minister thanked citizens, tweeting: “You gave a huge victory for the right and the Likud under my leadership.” Op-ed.

'Israeli election won't change nature of the conflict'

Senior Hamas and Islamic Jihad officials say that the election results in Israel reflect the process of radicalization of Israeli society.

Senior UTJ official: Netanyahu's conduct 'a slap in the face'

United Torah Judaism angry at Prime Minister who they say intervened in favor of Smotrich at their expense.

Likud fears opponents will make Mansour Abbas Knesset speaker

Associates of PM Netanyahu say he does not rule out working together with United Arab List.

MK Bitan: Working with Mansour Abbas won't hurt us

Likud MK David Bitan says party must be prepared to compromise to prevent a fifth round of elections, including with United Arab List leader

Israel''s election results: Guide to the perplexed

Bennett: We'll wait for final results and act responsibly

Yamina chairman tells party members he will decide on how to proceed after final votes are tallied.

Report: Netanyahu looking to form minority govt. with UAL

PM looking at ways to avoid 5th election, including minority government with support of United Arab List and bringing over New Hope MKs.

The Israeli Election system is a form of political madness

Can something be done to prevent the maddening indecisive Israeli election outcomes? Op-ed.

Haredi MK: 'Equal budget for haredi yeshivas'

UTJ chief MK Gafni promises: 'There will be no discrimination' in budget for haredi yeshivas.

Will Likud form a government with United Arab List?

Fierce debate within the Likud over whether to open coalition negotiations with Mansour Abbas' United Arab List.

Netanyahu to leave Likud, make way for right-wing coalition?

A political expert offers 3 options amid another deadlocked election, but will Netanyahu choose one of them?

Ze'ev Elkin: We won't join Netanyahu-led government

Former Likud MK says New Hope won't help Netanyahu form government. 'We'll keep our promise to our voters.'

How many people voted Likud in Bnei Brak?

Religious Zionism party third most popular among voters in haredi cities, data shows.

5th round in the makings? Anti-Netanyahu camp with possible 61

As most of the parties celebrated through the night, election results appear inconclusive and a 5th election looms in sight.

The Sovereignty Youth’s get-out-the-vote operation for the Right

Dozens of Sovereignty Youth worked in a special headquarter in Oz veGaon to encourage voters to turn out for all the right-wing parties

Likud MK: 'Israel's citizens need a democracy'

Likud 'absolutely' won't attempt to stop PM Netanyahu's trial. 'We are the ones protecting democracy,' says Likud's MK Karhi.

Coalition Whip: Bennett will join our government

'We must do everything - and I mean everything - to form a government, says Likud MK Miki Zohar after right-wing loses majority.

87% of vote counted:

Rightist bloc falls below 60 seats as Arab list clears threshold

With 87.5% of the vote counted, United Arab List now projected to clear threshold - denying right-wing bloc a majority.

Post election tribute to Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda Kook zts"l

As votes are counted, recall Rav Tzvi Yehuda's words: 'The building of Eretz Yisrael is accomplished by every segment of the Nation.' Op-ed.

2021 Election: Vote counting continues

With 79% of votes counted so far: Netanyahu bloc has 63 seats with Yamina, anti-Netanyahu bloc with 57.

'The Arab public said 'no' to the Joint List'

Deputy Health Minister Yoav Kisch says election results are an achievement for the Likud and the right.

Gantz: I was a warrior and will remain a warrior

Blue and White chairman responds to exit polls: I will reach out to anyone who can offer a replacement for Netanyahu.

Smotrich: We have won a very great unity

Smotrich after exit polls predict 6-7 seats for his party: We hope that the true results will bring a majority for the national camp.

'We will do everything to prevent an extremist government'

Nitzan Horowitz: We will do everything to prevent Netanyahu from forming an extreme, right-wing government with fascist elements.

Netanyahu: We brought a tremendous achievement

Netanyahu in post-election speech: I suggest to all Knesset members who believe in the principles of the right not to disqualify us.

'Netanyahu is the only candidate for Prime Minister'

Likud MK to Arutz Sheva: All the members of the right of center should join a government led by Netanyahu.

Channel 12 exit poll: Netanyahu-Bennett bloc has 59 seats

According to exit poll conducted for Channel 12 News, the bloc of parties supporting Netanyahu, together with Yamina, has 59 seats.

'There won’t be a government based on the votes of the racists'

Yesh Atid chairman: At the moment, Netanyahu doesn’t have 61 seats but the change bloc does.

Voter turnout plummets to lowest level in years

Arab voting rate falls, fueling broader decline in turnout rate, which fell to lowest level since 2013.