WITH 96.5% OF THE VOTE COUNTED, ISRAEL APPEARS IN A STATE OF DISARRAY

Avigdor Lieberman's party will have 8 seats in the Knesset, making him the kingmaker in the formation of a new government

With 96.5% of the vote counted, Israel’s crazy patchwork of voting for numerous parties rather than for a candidate has left Israel in in disarray with the left having a 2-seat margin in the Knesset over the right, that is if you do not count the 8 seats of Avigdor Lieberman's party.

Thus Lieberman, a Russian immigrant, is likely to be the kingmaker. If he joins with Netanyahu, which he is not likely to do as long as the religious parties are part of the government coalition, Netanyahu may survive. But without the religious parties Netanyahu is a dead duck. If Lieberman joins Benny Gantz, which the right-winger is loath to do, then Gantz will still need the pro-Palestinian Arabs in his coalition to become the new prime minister.

Of course, there is the possibility of a unity government which is what Lieberman wants, but that means one of the two, Netanyahu or Gantz will have give the premiership to the other, something they would not want to do.

If neither Netanyahu or Gantz is able to put together a majority coalition, then Israel will have to hold another election. What a fucking mess!

Here are the election results with 96.5% of the vote counted:

Knesset Seats

Blue and White 33 - Benny Gantz’s party

Likud 31 – Benjamin Netanyahu’s party

Joint Arab List 13

Shas 9

Yisrael Beytenu 8 - Avigdor Lieberman's party,

United Torah Judaism 8

Yamina 7

Labor-Gesher 6

Democratic Union 5

Knesset Blocs

Right 55

Yisrael Beytenu 8

Left 57
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What happens now? A guide to the perplexed

By Gideon Allon

Israel Hayom
September 18, 2019

The political impasse that emerged from Tuesday's Knesset election, in which no clear winner emerged, means that Israel will likely face several weeks or months of political uncertainty.

This means that everything will ultimately boil down to political procedures, to the point that the Knesset may once again be dissolved because the clock had run out.

Here is how things might unfold.

When will we start seeing talks on forming a government?

Under the law, the Central Elections Committee will certify the results next week, on Sept. 25, and then President Reuven Rivlin will consult with MKs in order to see who has the most support to serve as prime minister.

How much time do the consultations last?

The law stipulates that consultations must end within seven days, meaning Oct. 2, at which point he has to tap one of the MKs that has the best chance of forming a government.

How much time does a designated prime minister get to form a government?

The MK gets 28 days to court other parties and win a confidence vote in the Knesset for his government. If he fails to do so, the president may grant an extension of up to 14 days.

What happens if the designated prime minister fails to win a confidence vote after an extension is granted?

The president then has to consult with parties and task another MK with the job of forming a government. That person will get 28 days, and if he or she fails, they will have to inform the Knesset speaker. After that, MKs are allowed to send a letter to the president and ask him to assign another MK who has agreed to do so. So long as at least 61 MKs sign that letter, the president must heed their request.

What if that person fails as well?

In this case the president should inform the Knesset speaker that there is no viable option of forming a government. This will automatically trigger an early election within 90 days.