By Salma El-Sakka
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies are on track to win the most seats in Tuesday's parliamentary election, defying weeks of polling that predicted his defeat. The central election committee continued tallying votes on Wednesday, with final results expected Thursday. Current forecasts give Netanyahu's bloc 54 seats, short of the 61 needed for a majority in the Knesset, leaving his main challenger Gadi Eisenkot also without a clear path to form a government. At 77, Israel's longest-serving prime minister with a cumulative 19 years in office could remain as caretaker if coalition talks fail.
Political Longevity
Netanyahu first won the premiership in 1996, defeating Shimon Peres by just 29,457 votes. He resigned three years later after a landslide loss to Ehud Barak, then spent a decade out of power before returning in 2009 following the Gaza war. Despite not winning the most seats that year, he formed a coalition. He survived subsequent elections in 2013 and 2015, and a unprecedented series of three inconclusive votes between April 2019 and March 2020, during which he was indicted on corruption charges.
Corruption Scandals
Netanyahu has been on trial for six years over three criminal cases involving bribery, fraud and breach of trust, all of which he denies. The charges include accepting luxury gifts from a Hollywood producer, trading regulatory favors for positive media coverage, and granting benefits worth around $500 million to Bezeq Telecom. Bribery carries up to 10 years in prison. Under Israeli law, a prime minister need not resign unless convicted, and can remain in office throughout appeals. Netanyahu's cross-examination concluded in June 2025 after 98 hearings; the court accelerated sessions in 2026 before the presiding judge retires. He has also requested a pardon from President Isaac Herzog, which remains pending.
Out of Office and Return
Netanyahu was ousted in 2021 after 12 consecutive years by a diverse coalition led by Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett. That government collapsed within 18 months, paving the way for his return in late 2022. His judicial overhaul plan sparked mass protests from January to October 2023, which subsided only after the Hamas-led October 7 attacks plunged the country into war. The conflict delayed his trial until December 2024, with cross-examination resuming amid regional escalations in 2025 and 2026.
Assassination Attempts
Amid heightened tensions with Iran, Israeli security services said in late 2024 they had arrested an Israeli citizen suspected of involvement in an Iranian plot to assassinate Netanyahu that August. In October 2024, a drone targeted his home in Caesarea; neither he nor his wife were present. Netanyahu blamed Iranian proxies. A month later, police reported two flash bombs fired at the same residence, again with no injuries or damage.
