This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2019/sep/17/israeli-election-close-result-expected-as-netanyahu-seeks-fifth-term-live-news
The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 14 | Version 15 |
---|---|
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 |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main challenger Benny Gantz are awaiting results from the country’s general election on Wednesday after exit polls showed them locked in a tight race. | |
Early results show the two major parties are almost neck and neck, with neither major party looking set to get a clear majority, even with their coalition parties, meaning leaders could be set to face a long period of negotiations once again. | |
This is the second time Israel has gone to the polls this year. Netanyahu appeared to narrowly beat Gantz in an April election, but he failed to form a government and so forced a repeat vote to give himself another chance. | |
Netanyahu addressed supporters at party headquarters in the early hours of Wednesday morning saying: “In the coming days, we will enter into negotiations to establish a strong Zionist government and to prevent a dangerous anti-Zionist government. The “anti-Zionist” reference was directed at Israel’s Arab parties, with exit polls showing they could become the third-largest force in parliament. | |
In a rally at which Netanyahu’s supporters chanted “Bibi, king of Israel” and some waved Trump posters, Netanyahu praised Donald Trump, whom he called a “close friend”, saying: “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.” | |
In a cautiously optimistic speech to supporters on Wednesday morning, Benny Gantz, the leader of Blue and White, said he would seek to form a unity government with his political opponents and called on them to meet with his to form a better government for all citizens. “It looks like for the second time, the citizens of Israel gave their trust to us,” he said to chants from the crowd of “Who is this? The next prime minister!” | |
Netanyahu is fighting not only for his political life but also his freedom. Pre-trial hearings for three corruption cases against him are just weeks away and a majority in the 120-seat parliament could help grant him immunity from prosecution. | |
Netanyahu vowed last week to declare up to a third of the occupied West Bank as part of Israel if he was re-elected and Gantz swiftly accused his political opponent of stealing his idea. | |
Israel’s Channel 12 says it has received reports from sources in the Central Elections Committee, which reflect around 85% of the national vote. | Israel’s Channel 12 says it has received reports from sources in the Central Elections Committee, which reflect around 85% of the national vote. |
The station says that according to those unofficial results, Netanyahu’s Likud and Gantz’s Blue and White are tied at 32 seats and that including minor parties, the right-wing bloc has a total of 56 seats, the centre-left has 55 and Liberman has 9. | The station says that according to those unofficial results, Netanyahu’s Likud and Gantz’s Blue and White are tied at 32 seats and that including minor parties, the right-wing bloc has a total of 56 seats, the centre-left has 55 and Liberman has 9. |
Channel 12 says its sources tell it that a majority of votes have already been counted, but due to increased scrutiny, the CEC is doing recounts in order to ensure the information it puts out is accurate. | Channel 12 says its sources tell it that a majority of votes have already been counted, but due to increased scrutiny, the CEC is doing recounts in order to ensure the information it puts out is accurate. |
An update: 25.77% of the vote has been counted and the gap in primary vote for Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party, is closing, with 28.42% for Likud and 25.4% for Blue and White. | An update: 25.77% of the vote has been counted and the gap in primary vote for Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party, is closing, with 28.42% for Likud and 25.4% for Blue and White. |
According to the official tally, 18.45% of votes have been counted, with 29.19% for Netanyahu’s Likud party and 24.38% for Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party. | According to the official tally, 18.45% of votes have been counted, with 29.19% for Netanyahu’s Likud party and 24.38% for Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party. |
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.’ | 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. |