Degel HaTorah Delays Coalition Decisions as Final Election Tally Concludes
Degel HaTorah states that no endorsement decision has been made as the final election count concludes, leaving Likud with 27 seats and the bloc balance unchanged.
Degel HaTorah officials have clarified that no final decision has yet been made regarding which candidate the party will endorse for prime minister or what coalition paths it will pursue. According to party sources, all scenarios remain open at this stage, and the ultimate decision will depend on how the political landscape unfolds following the election results.
The party is closely monitoring the final mandate count for Shas, operating on the assumption that ultra-Orthodox factions will coordinate their political maneuvers. In addition, Degel HaTorah will evaluate the overall balance of power between the political blocs and assess proposals presented by various actors during coalition negotiations.
Core Interests and Coalition Stance
Degel HaTorah emphasizes that the paramount priority for ultra-Orthodox parties is safeguarding the world of Torah study, while all other issues remain secondary. Consequently, decisions regarding prime ministerial endorsement and coalition membership will be guided strictly by which options best protect these core interests.
For now, the party is declining to commit to any specific political alliance or endorse a particular candidate. The final determination will be postponed until the election results are fully tabulated, the exact mandate strength of Shas is known, and the inter-bloc balance is established.
Final Vote Count and 26th Knesset Composition
Meanwhile, the vote count has concluded, with the final tally of double-envelope ballots leaving the overall bloc balance unchanged. Following the counting of 100 percent of the votes, the composition of the 26th Knesset features 11 parliamentary lists.
Likud, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, leads the house with 27 seats, followed by the Yashar! party headed by Gadi Eisenkot with 21 seats. The BeYachad list, formed by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, secures 12 mandates, while the Joint List takes 11. The Democrats and Ra'am are expected to win eight seats each, with Yisrael Beytenu, Otzma Yehudit, and United Torah Judaism capturing seven seats apiece. Shas and Religious Zionism conclude the list with six mandates each.
