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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 |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The mood was quite downbeat at Likud party’s HQ earlier today, and certainly compared with the atmosphere during the April election. | |
| I spoke with a Likud party volunteer just after Netanyahu’s speech who seemed worried about the prospects for the prime minister. Batel Benjamin, 29, has been working all day to get people to vote in the Israel settlement of Ariel in the occupied West Bank. But she said even some Likud supporters did not believe Netanuyahu’s warning that they could lose the election, and so did not cast ballots. | |
| When asked about exit polls showing Likud slightly behind, she said: “I’m not surprised. We felt it all day – people were pretty indifferent. I still believe Netanyahu will be the next prime minister. We hope that it will be with a rightwing government, but maybe it will be a unity government.” | |
| Benjamin is a settler herself and has been a long-time supporter of the prime minister, saying she believes in “keeping the land of Israel, not giving parts to the Arabs”, in reference to the Palestinian territories. | |
| You can read our full story about the night’s events here. | |
| Israel election: lengthy coalition talks loom as exit polls point to deadlock | Israel election: lengthy coalition talks loom as exit polls point to deadlock |
| Avigdor Lieberman has also laid out his demands, including military service for the ultra-Orthodox, public transportation and commerce on the Sabbath, saying he will not speak to other party leaders until they meet his preconditions, the Times of Israel reports. | |
| He also expressed willingness to sit in a government under Benjamin Netanyahu, a softening of tone for Lieberman, though he remained adamant that a government should not be formed that includes Arab parties, something he called “absurd”. | |
| “Don’t waste your time. We need to pursue the only possible track as fast as possible,” he says, referring to his demands for a unity government, which he describes as “the only possible action”. | |
| Haaretz reports that Avigdor Lieberman, who looks set to become a kingmaker after the night’s inconclusive result, commented on the election results on Wednesday morning, saying: | |
| “The picture is clear … There is only one option and it’s a broad liberal unity government,” which is what Benny Gantz was calling for in his speech to supporters in the early hours of this morning. Netanyahu’s supporters and less keen, as the incumbent PM took the stage this morning, it was to chants of “no unity”. | |
| From earlier this morning: Netanyahu and Gantz speak to supporters as election results too close to call - video | From earlier this morning: Netanyahu and Gantz speak to supporters as election results too close to call - video |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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!” | 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 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. | 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 rightwing bloc has a total of 56 seats, the centre-left has 55 and Lieberman 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. |