Dimona Mayor Calls for Unity Government as Israeli Election Results Show Deadlock

Dimona Mayor Beni Biton, a close ally of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, called for the establishment of a broad national unity government headed by Netanyahu, incorporating opposition figures such as Gadi Eisenkot, Avigdor Lieberman, and Naftali Bennett. In a statement to the press, Biton emphasized that no one within the Zionist bloc should be boycotted, provided that Netanyahu remains at the helm.

"I call on the Prime Minister to establish a national unity government led by him, of course, and not to abandon our natural partners," Biton stated, highlighting Dimona's strong electoral support for Likud. "I want to see Eisenkot and Lieberman, and if Naftali Bennett wants to join, he is welcome too. But all of this must be under Netanyahu's leadership; no one in the Zionist camp is boycotted."

Meanwhile, preliminary election results with 85% of the votes counted—totaling 4,875,751 ballots—indicate a political deadlock. Without accounting for double-envelope votes, the Netanyahu bloc stands at 53 mandates, the Eisenkot bloc holds 48 seats, and Arab parties command 19 mandates. Likud dipped to 26 seats, Yisrael Beytenu decreased to seven, while the Joint List strengthened to 12 and Ra'am secured seven. Neither major bloc commands the 61-seat majority required to form a government.

President Isaac Herzog addressed the inconclusive election results, urging political parties to bridge divisions and avert another costly electoral cycle. "We must do everything possible, especially after yesterday, to avoid repeating another round of elections," Herzog declared, adding that he expects all incoming lawmakers to approach coalition talks with an open mind.