Preliminary election results published in Israel

by Peter Lyukimson

Preliminary election results were published in Israel at 6 am on January 23. They include 99.8% of votes. 0.2% of votes belong to soldiers on duty during the elections.

Likud Beiteinu got 31 seats, Esh Atid 19 seats, Israeli Labour Party 15 seats, Bayt Yegudi 11, Shas 12, United Torah Judaism 7, Tnua of Tsipi Livni 6, Meretz 6, Arab parties got 12 in total, Kadima got 2.

United Torah Judaism and Arab parties increased their presence in the parliament.

Party leaders will be meeting President Shimon Peres tomorrow to share thoughts about forming coalitions.

Esh Atid, Israeli Labour Party, Tnua, Meretz, Shas and United Torah Judaism may form a coalition with 65 seats in total.

Another version of the possible coalition, though more likely, would resemble a bloc of Benjamin Netanyahu, including Likud Beiteinu, Esh Atid, Israeli Labour Party, Tnua, Shas, United Torah Judaism and the Jewish Home with 88 seats of parliament.

The third version is a coalition of Likud Beiteinu, the Jewish Home, Shas with 59 seats.

The fourth version is Likud Beiteinu, Esh Atid, the Jewish Home and Kadima with 63 seats.

The main disputes about the Iranian, Syrian and Palestinian problems will start in March, possibly continuing in the summer of 2013.