Israel Elections 2022

POLITICAL AFFAIRS: The anti-Netanyahu bloc has three people to blame: Yair Lapid, Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli and Balad leader MK Sami Abou Shahadeh.

NATIONAL AFFAIRS: The question is whether Netanyahu will be able to keep his coalition partners – the Religious Zionist Party, Shas and UTJ – in order.

Baharav-Miara believes now that Netanyahu has secured his return to power, that he might return to a relative position of respecting the legal establishment.

Labor won only four seats in the new government with its sister party Meretz falling below the threshold.

So what does Itamar Ben-Gvir, the most colorful and controversial senior Israeli politician, plan to do if he actually joins a Benjamin Netanyahu-led coalition?

For Netanyahu, Shas and UTJ are dream coalition partners. The Religious Zionist Party, featuring Itamar Ben-Gvir, is an Israeli diplomatic nightmare.

On Wednesday night, Meretz was placed just below the threshold of 3.25%, and the Likud led with 32 seats.

Officials have loudly criticized the Shin Bet and the IDF in the past for cracking down on Jewish settler violence against the Palestinians.

"We didn't promise her a position, but there was talk of forgiveness. She did the right thing," said Kish.

The blame game began after it became clear on Wednesday afternoon that Balad was not going to pass the electoral threshold, thus ensuring a victory for the Right bloc led by Netanyahu.