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| Israel election: Netanyahu says country at 'historic junction' as exit polls too close to call – live news | Israel election: Netanyahu says country at 'historic junction' as exit polls too close to call – live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Israel’s former defence chief Avigdor Lieberman has called for a national unity government after election exit polls suggest the result is too close to call. The possible kingmaker in the parliamentary election told a campaign rally: ‘We have only one option – a national, liberal, broad government comprising Yisrael Beitenu, Likud and Blue and White.’ | |
| According to Israel’s election commission, 10.26% of votes (656,000 votes) have been counted now, with 30.5% of votes for Likud and 23.6% of votes for Blue and White. | According to Israel’s election commission, 10.26% of votes (656,000 votes) have been counted now, with 30.5% of votes for Likud and 23.6% of votes for Blue and White. |
| The count-tracker is here. | The count-tracker is here. |
| According to the Times of Israel, as of 2:15 am (about an hour and a half ago), just 5%(336,341) votes have been counted. By contrast, during the April election, 1.6 million ballots had been tallied by this hour. | According to the Times of Israel, as of 2:15 am (about an hour and a half ago), just 5%(336,341) votes have been counted. By contrast, during the April election, 1.6 million ballots had been tallied by this hour. |
| The newspaper reports that the Central Elections Committee is warning the process will take much longer in this vote compared to the vote in April longer this time, and the full picture may not emerge until Wednesday afternoon. | The newspaper reports that the Central Elections Committee is warning the process will take much longer in this vote compared to the vote in April longer this time, and the full picture may not emerge until Wednesday afternoon. |
| “This is our country, we have no other, we will save it together,” says Netanyahu. | “This is our country, we have no other, we will save it together,” says Netanyahu. |
| And he’s finished speaking. Supporters are now joining him on stage and are shaking his hand. | And he’s finished speaking. Supporters are now joining him on stage and are shaking his hand. |
| Netanyahu says Israel needs a strong, stable, Zionist government to work with his ‘close friend’ Donald Trump | Netanyahu says Israel needs a strong, stable, Zionist government to work with his ‘close friend’ Donald Trump |
| Netanyahu continues: “We are still waiting for the true results, but one thing is clear, the state of Israel is at an historic junction with great opportunities, as well as great challenges ahead of us. The existential threat from Iran and allies, and we are fighting them without fear. The last year we brought defence strength, economic growth. | Netanyahu continues: “We are still waiting for the true results, but one thing is clear, the state of Israel is at an historic junction with great opportunities, as well as great challenges ahead of us. The existential threat from Iran and allies, and we are fighting them without fear. The last year we brought defence strength, economic growth. |
| “Soon, the plan of the century will be presented by my close friend President Trump and the negotiations with President Trump will shape the future of Israel for generations to come. And because of this, Israel needs a strong and stable and Zionist government. A government that is committed to Israel as a national state for the Jewish people. There can’t be a government that is being supported by anti-Zionist, Arabic parties that doesn’t believe in Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. Parties who are supporting terrorists who are killing our families and our children. It is unthinkable.” | “Soon, the plan of the century will be presented by my close friend President Trump and the negotiations with President Trump will shape the future of Israel for generations to come. And because of this, Israel needs a strong and stable and Zionist government. A government that is committed to Israel as a national state for the Jewish people. There can’t be a government that is being supported by anti-Zionist, Arabic parties that doesn’t believe in Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. Parties who are supporting terrorists who are killing our families and our children. It is unthinkable.” |
| Netanyahu is attacking the media, saying his party faced the extraordinary bias of the media. The crowd boos. | Netanyahu is attacking the media, saying his party faced the extraordinary bias of the media. The crowd boos. |
| “We managed to bring big results despite the one-sided media coverage,” he says. | “We managed to bring big results despite the one-sided media coverage,” he says. |
| The crowd are cheering “Bibi, the king of Israel.” | The crowd are cheering “Bibi, the king of Israel.” |
| Netanyahu is speaking to a crowd of a few hundred people. There are people standing on chairs with Israeli flags and there is a Trump Banner in the hall just like in April. | Netanyahu is speaking to a crowd of a few hundred people. There are people standing on chairs with Israeli flags and there is a Trump Banner in the hall just like in April. |
| “My friends, members of the Likud, partners in my path. I have a sore throat,” he says. | “My friends, members of the Likud, partners in my path. I have a sore throat,” he says. |
| “But it is better to lose my voice than to lose your country.” | “But it is better to lose my voice than to lose your country.” |
| “I have come here tonight together with my wife Sara” – chants of “Sara! Sara!” – “I came here tonight to say thank you, thank you from the depths of my heart. We thank you, we trust you, we believe in you.” | “I have come here tonight together with my wife Sara” – chants of “Sara! Sara!” – “I came here tonight to say thank you, thank you from the depths of my heart. We thank you, we trust you, we believe in you.” |
| He says it was a “tough election campaign”. “I want to thank first of all the members of the parliament and members of the Likud, we worked together in unity and together we will be united for the future, the future for the good of Israel.” | He says it was a “tough election campaign”. “I want to thank first of all the members of the parliament and members of the Likud, we worked together in unity and together we will be united for the future, the future for the good of Israel.” |
| Benjamin Netanyahu is addressing supporters at the Likud election party. | Benjamin Netanyahu is addressing supporters at the Likud election party. |
| The crowd is cheering “Bibi! Bibi!”. They are also chanting: “We don’t want unity!” (Meaning a unity government.) | The crowd is cheering “Bibi! Bibi!”. They are also chanting: “We don’t want unity!” (Meaning a unity government.) |
| Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived at the Likud election party. He is walking through the crowd, shaking hands of supporters. | Benjamin Netanyahu has arrived at the Likud election party. He is walking through the crowd, shaking hands of supporters. |
| A little on voter turnout today, which was slightly higher than for April’s vote. | A little on voter turnout today, which was slightly higher than for April’s vote. |
| Israel’s election commission says 69.4% of eligible voters cast ballots in unprecedented repeat elections, with 4,440,141 votes cast by the time polls closed in Tuesday’s elections. | Israel’s election commission says 69.4% of eligible voters cast ballots in unprecedented repeat elections, with 4,440,141 votes cast by the time polls closed in Tuesday’s elections. |
| Turnout in April’s elections was 68.5%. Parliament voted to dissolve itself when Netanyahu was not able to form a majority coalition. | Turnout in April’s elections was 68.5%. Parliament voted to dissolve itself when Netanyahu was not able to form a majority coalition. |
| Interestingly, turnout among Arab voters was significantly higher than it was in April’s vote, suggesting Netanyahu’s anti-Arab scaremongering may have actually boosted Arab turnout. | Interestingly, turnout among Arab voters was significantly higher than it was in April’s vote, suggesting Netanyahu’s anti-Arab scaremongering may have actually boosted Arab turnout. |
| Turnout among Arabs 61%, up from 49% in April. @AyOdeh says one of their seats came from Jews mad at incitement against Arabs by @netanyahu. | Turnout among Arabs 61%, up from 49% in April. @AyOdeh says one of their seats came from Jews mad at incitement against Arabs by @netanyahu. |