Likud Leads at 21.7% as Trump Claims Credit for Netanyahu's Survival
Partial results show the prime minister's coalition falling short of the 61-seat majority needed to govern, even as the U.S. president asserts his backing shifted the election's outcome.
By Natalia Costa ·
Donald Trump credited his public endorsement with preventing a decisive loss for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tuesday's election.
In a message posted to Truth Social on Wednesday, Trump wrote that his support for Netanyahu changed the entire trend of the race. He described the result as a come-from-behind tie or a victory for the prime minister, rather than a major defeat. The post, written in the third person, was signed by Irving C. Schwartz. Trump did not clarify Schwartz's identity or whether the words were a direct quote from a third party.
According to the Central Election Commission, the Likud party is currently in first place with 21.7% of the vote, with 42% of ballots counted. Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar! party follows with 15.7%, while the Joint List holds 9.2%. Exit polls and partial counts indicate that neither the pro-Netanyahu bloc nor the opposition has secured the 61 seats required to form a government in the Knesset.
Trump added that everything happened after his endorsement, stating that he wants what is good for the Middle East, Israel, and the United States. The message appeared as the country weighed the political future of a leader who has led Israel for years amid ongoing conflict.
The election results will determine the path forward for the 120-member parliament. While the opposition bloc appears to have a numerical advantage over the prime minister's side, projections show it also lacks the necessary majority to rule independently. The final seat allocation will depend on the remaining votes being tallied.
