Five ways Netanyahu’s return could shake up Israel and the world

Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to return to power after teaming up with far-right parties to win this week’s elections.

Results from the election show Netanyahu’s conservative coalition is expected to win as much as 65 seats in the 120-member Knesset. No political party has ever singlehandedly won a majority in Israel’s multiparty parliamentary system, so political parties must come together in a coalition to govern. 

Netanyahu is the longest-serving prime minister in Israel’s history, having served from 1996 to 1999 and again from 2009 until 2021. But he has long courted controversy, and in recent years become embroiled in corruption charges.

Netanyahu’s return to power could have major domestic and international political implications, as he represents a stark shift from Prime Minister Yair Lapid, a centrist who was Netanyahu’s main opponent and conceded on Thursday.

Here’s five ways Netanyahu’s return could shake up Israel and the world: 

Netanyahu’s allies could erase criminal probes

Benjamin Netanyahu waves to his supporters after first exit poll results for the Israeli Parliamentary election on Nov. 2, 2022. (Associated Press)

Netanyahu has been fighting charges of corruption since 2019, when he became the first sitting premier to be indicted. He is facing charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.

Netanyahu’s Cabinet will be filled with the top leaders of the political parties in his coalition, and those officials could back legislation that would grant Netanyahu immunity from prosecution as sitting prime minister.

Netanyahu would just need a simple majority of the Knesset to vote in favor of the legislation to shield him from the charges.

He is accused in one case of accepting gifts from two businessmen in exchange for policy favors. In two others, he is accused of corrupt dealing with media organizations in exchange for favorable coverage.

Netanyahu has denied wrongdoing in these cases as his trial has gone on for multiple years.

etanyahu previously requested the Knesset grant him immunity from the charges in 2020 but withdrew it as he did not appear to have the necessary votes to receive the legal protection