2022 Israeli legislative election: Who is the winner and what was the main issue?

Israel’s former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the nationalists and religious allies had the edge over the other opponents earlier today, Wednesday, 02 November 2022, exit polls have revealed. But the official counting and final tally are yet to be announced, which could differ from exit polls results.

The dispute of unclear majority might force the country to conduct an election early in the upcoming year, 2023. There were talks reported that one of Benjamin Netanyahu's allies, the Arab nationalist party, would act as a spoiler and backout support to form the government. The opponents split at the last moment when voting at Israel's Knesset could prompt another election.




Meanwhile, the third-largest political party in the Israeli Parliament, the Jewish Ultranationalist Faction will gain unprecedented clout in the government.

The official results will be out later this week. And the media TV channels’ exit polls project how Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies are predicted to win 61 to 62 seats in the 120-member Knesset, which is just enough to form a government. The array of opponent parties led by Israel Prime Minister Yair Lapid, a political centrist, will lose the election as they’ll bag 54 seats, as per the exit polls. Now the question remains if Balad, a small Arab nationalist party will win the 4 seats. If they do, Balad will weaken Benjamin Netanyahu’s camp’s chances of victory.

The main issue for the Israeli election since 2019 is Benjamin Netanyahu’s polarizing figure, who also faces serious corruption allegations.

FAQs:

Who is the current PM of Israel?
Yair Lapid.

Who is predicted to win the 2022 Israeli Legislative Election?
Israel’s ex-PM Benjamin Netanyahu is predicted to win in the 2022 Israeli Legislative election according to exit polls.