Netanyahu wins historic 5th term as opponent Benny Gantz concedes Longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is claiming victory in Israel's election.
But with 98 percent of the votes counted, results showed the Likud and other right-wing parties allied to him with some 65 seats in the 120-seat parliament.
Right-wing bloc's success gives PM clear path to form new government, despite Likud tying in seats with Gantz's Blue and White; New Right and Zehut fail to cross threshold. You're seeing two dominant parties moving toward a two-party system.
Gantz's statement followed an exit poll on Channel 12 TV news, Israel's TV station with the highest ratings, which showed he has won 37 seats while Netanyahu lags behind with 33 seats. As of 9 a.m., Likud had won 26.27 percent of the votes, earning them 35 seats in the Knesset.
In reality, however, most Arab states, in particular the leaders of Saudi Arabia, don't care much about Palestine's fate. Election day in Israel is a national holiday, with turnout expected to be high in good weather. New Right Party leader Naftali Bennett asked.
As Jeff goes on to note, there are many smaller parties sucking up some of the votes, but a unique facet of Israeli election laws prevents the Knesset from splintering entirely.
"Gantz has come out of literally nowhere". No one from a party that is not ours should worry.
Voting in Tel Aviv, businessman Dedi Cohen, 44, said he supported Mr Gantz. "They wanted a different way and we outlined it".
He said they should be proud.
Barak said that Netanyahu now has plenty of options in forming a coalition.
Most of the votes have been counted and the two main parties - Likud and Blue and White - are virtually tied for seats in the parliament.
The final results are subject to change. His party - which represents immigrants from the former Soviet Union - maintains hardline rightwing positions. That's why he made an error when he formed an alliance with Lapid, Zalzberg said. "The Israeli public has had their say". The attorney general has recommended a series of criminal charges against the prime minister but will only make a decision on indicting him after a legally mandated hearing.
That came after Trump signed a proclamation during Netanyahu's visit to Washington on March 25, officially granting USA recognition of the Golan Heights as Israeli territory, a dramatic departure from decades of American policy.
"We know the next prime minister of Israel will be Netanyahu", Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tzipi Hotovely told JNS.