Israel’s newly elected parliament is due to open Nov. 10, with an Associated Press tally putting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc eight seats short of the 61 needed for a majority in the 120-member chamber. Anadolu Agency reported that the Knesset is scheduled to hold its inaugural session that day.
The Associated Press reported 53 seats for Netanyahu’s bloc, 48 for the main Zionist opposition and 19 for Arab-led parties. The opposition and Arab-led parties have 67 seats combined but no coalition pact, according to EconoTimes’ earlier report on the seat tally.
Israel’s Central Elections Committee has scheduled formal publication of the results for Nov. 4 and said the count could change before then. A majority in the Knesset is 61 seats.
The Oct. 27 vote selected party lists for parliament rather than choosing a prime minister directly. The lawmaker who forms a government and wins the Knesset’s confidence becomes prime minister, as explained in EconoTimes’ account of Israel’s party-list vote and government formation. Formal results are scheduled for Nov. 4, ahead of the Knesset’s reported Nov. 10 session.
