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Israel election: Netanyahu says country at 'historic junction' as exit polls too close to call – live news | |
(34 minutes later) | |
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. | |
“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. | |
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. | |
“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. | |
“We managed to bring big results despite the one-sided media coverage,” he says. | |
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. |
We have had word that Benjamin Netanyahu will address supporters in five minutes. Our correspondent Oliver Holmes has rushed across town to get from the Blue and White party to the Likud party and will have updates for us as soon as that speech begins. | We have had word that Benjamin Netanyahu will address supporters in five minutes. Our correspondent Oliver Holmes has rushed across town to get from the Blue and White party to the Likud party and will have updates for us as soon as that speech begins. |
Benny Gantz sounded a cautiously optimistic note in his speech to supporters, saying he will try to form a unity government, but is still waiting for official results to come through. pic.twitter.com/aNjvCOwKqY | Benny Gantz sounded a cautiously optimistic note in his speech to supporters, saying he will try to form a unity government, but is still waiting for official results to come through. pic.twitter.com/aNjvCOwKqY |
Gantz is high-fiving and hugging supporters and candidates on stage. | Gantz is high-fiving and hugging supporters and candidates on stage. |
Gantz says he will speak to “everybody” to form a coalition, including Lieberman. | Gantz says he will speak to “everybody” to form a coalition, including Lieberman. |
“I will fight to create a national unity government,” he says. “A wide unity government.” | “I will fight to create a national unity government,” he says. “A wide unity government.” |
Gantz is calling on his political opponents to meet with him to form a better government for all citizens. | Gantz is calling on his political opponents to meet with him to form a better government for all citizens. |
He reiterates that they need to wait patiently for results to come in. | He reiterates that they need to wait patiently for results to come in. |
He finishes by saying: “Last night I went to the Wailing Wall and I prayed that I would be capable to fulfil my assignment tonight.” | He finishes by saying: “Last night I went to the Wailing Wall and I prayed that I would be capable to fulfil my assignment tonight.” |
Speech is done, Gantz has left the stage to applause. | Speech is done, Gantz has left the stage to applause. |
“According to the results, it looks like for the second time, the citizens of Israel gave their trust to us, the citizens gave their trust to unity and to respect democracy in Israel as a country that is a Jewish state and a democratic state,” says Gantz. | “According to the results, it looks like for the second time, the citizens of Israel gave their trust to us, the citizens gave their trust to unity and to respect democracy in Israel as a country that is a Jewish state and a democratic state,” says Gantz. |
“We proved and I promise that starting tonight, regardless of the results, the beginning of the campaign to heal Israel society has started.” | “We proved and I promise that starting tonight, regardless of the results, the beginning of the campaign to heal Israel society has started.” |
Gantz is thanking supporters and volunteers: “You are the change,” he says. | Gantz is thanking supporters and volunteers: “You are the change,” he says. |
Gantz is also thanking his family, who says have barely seen him over the last three months and his running mates, including Yair Lapid, whom he calls a friend as well as a political ally. | Gantz is also thanking his family, who says have barely seen him over the last three months and his running mates, including Yair Lapid, whom he calls a friend as well as a political ally. |
“We are going to have a meeting to summarise, we have to be patient. This is a long road, we took a big assignment on us and now we have to exercise patient to get the final result. It looks according to the results right now that Netanyahu did not manage to fulfil his mission.” | “We are going to have a meeting to summarise, we have to be patient. This is a long road, we took a big assignment on us and now we have to exercise patient to get the final result. It looks according to the results right now that Netanyahu did not manage to fulfil his mission.” |
“The idea that is Blue and White that we started just one year ago is a valid one and it is part of Israel.” | “The idea that is Blue and White that we started just one year ago is a valid one and it is part of Israel.” |
Benny Gantz is onstage addressing supporters, saying “Of course we will wait for the real results but it looks like we stayed on our target and we did it our way” pic.twitter.com/5adUP7vH84 | Benny Gantz is onstage addressing supporters, saying “Of course we will wait for the real results but it looks like we stayed on our target and we did it our way” pic.twitter.com/5adUP7vH84 |
The crowd is chanting: “Who is this? The next prime minister!” | The crowd is chanting: “Who is this? The next prime minister!” |
Benny Gantz is addressing supporters at the Blue and White election party. | Benny Gantz is addressing supporters at the Blue and White election party. |
“I am excited to be here tonight. Of course we will wait for the official results but the way it looks right now, we have accomplished our mission and we did it our way.” | “I am excited to be here tonight. Of course we will wait for the official results but the way it looks right now, we have accomplished our mission and we did it our way.” |
Benny Gantz has arrived on stage. Supporters are cheering and chanting. | Benny Gantz has arrived on stage. Supporters are cheering and chanting. |