26 mins agoIsrael, US have chance to ‘remove the existential threat of Iran once and for all,’ Netanyahu says
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that his country and the U.S. have a chance to remove the Iranian threat “once and for all,” a report said.
Netanyahu, during a speech at the Lukid party election headquarters in Jerusalem, pushed for the formation of “a strong, right-wing national government,” according to Reuters.
“Israel faces a singular historical opportunity, together with our partner President Trump, to remove the existential threat of Iran once and for all. But ulterior motives must not divert us from this sacred mission,” he reportedly said.
Netanyahu’s political bloc gained ground Wednesday morning as Israel counted votes from its first national election since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre, but remained short of the majority needed to form a government, leaving the country facing another potential political deadlock.
With approximately 70% of votes counted, Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious bloc stood at 54 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, compared with 47 for the main opposition and 19 for Arab parties, according to partial election results reported by Israeli media. Netanyahu’s Likud led with 27 seats, while former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party held 20.
Fox News’ Efrat Lachter contributed to this post.