The Kulanu party has agreed to merge with Likud and cease being an independent party, according to Israeli media reports.
Labour leader Avi Gabbay rejected calls for him to resign last night, insisting that he would be sworn in as an MK in the new Knesset and would continue to serve the public from the opposition. Rumours were circulating that both Itzik Shmuli and Stav Shaffir would compete for the leadership of the party with Amir Peretz as temporary leader if Gabbay were to resign. Tal Russo, number two on the Labour list, was reportedly considering not taking up his Knesset seat if Gabbay were to remain as the party’s leader. Gabbay said that he would consult with his party MKs on next steps for Labour, including holding primaries.
Hanan Ashrawi, a senior Palestinian official, said Israelis had: “Overwhelmingly voted for candidates that are unequivocally committed to entrenching the status quo of oppression, occupation, annexation and dispossession in Palestine”.