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| Israeli Election Gives Edge to Netanyahu, Exit Polls Say | Israeli Election Gives Edge to Netanyahu, Exit Polls Say |
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| JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel held a significant lead in his third electoral showdown with the former army chief Benny Gantz, and was close to an outright parliamentary majority, exit polls showed on Tuesday morning. | JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel held a significant lead in his third electoral showdown with the former army chief Benny Gantz, and was close to an outright parliamentary majority, exit polls showed on Tuesday morning. |
| The polls showed Mr. Netanyahu, who faces trial in two weeks on felony corruption charges, just two parliamentary seats away from forming a government, winning a record fifth term in office and breaking the political logjam that has paralyzed Israel for more than a year. | The polls showed Mr. Netanyahu, who faces trial in two weeks on felony corruption charges, just two parliamentary seats away from forming a government, winning a record fifth term in office and breaking the political logjam that has paralyzed Israel for more than a year. |
| But that also would set the stage for a possible constitutional showdown between Israel’s political and judicial power centers over whether Mr. Netanyahu is able to form a government while under indictment. | But that also would set the stage for a possible constitutional showdown between Israel’s political and judicial power centers over whether Mr. Netanyahu is able to form a government while under indictment. |
| Israeli exit polls have been unreliable, but all three television networks gave Mr. Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious coalition 59 seats in the Monday election, two shy of a majority in the 120-member Parliament. | |
| That plurality, if it holds up, would give him the first chance to assemble a majority coalition, but he would have to peel off two seats from other parties to do so. | |
| Mr. Netanyahu and his allies won 60 seats in the election last April, and he was unable to form a government. But two elections later, Mr. Netanyahu is full of momentum, his opponents are exhausted, and analysts began speculating about possible recruitment targets for him among Mr. Gantz’s allies. | Mr. Netanyahu and his allies won 60 seats in the election last April, and he was unable to form a government. But two elections later, Mr. Netanyahu is full of momentum, his opponents are exhausted, and analysts began speculating about possible recruitment targets for him among Mr. Gantz’s allies. |
| Actual results were expected to dribble in during the morning on Tuesday. | Actual results were expected to dribble in during the morning on Tuesday. |
| Mr. Gantz and his allies on the center-left, including the predominantly Arab Joint List, appeared to have won 54 or 55 seats, depending on the survey. | Mr. Gantz and his allies on the center-left, including the predominantly Arab Joint List, appeared to have won 54 or 55 seats, depending on the survey. |
| Mr. Gantz vowed to fight on, urging supporters in Tel Aviv to wait for official results and reminding them that Mr. Netanyahu would soon be “sitting in the defendant’s chair.” | |
| But he acknowledged the sting of the exit polls. “I understand and share the feeling of disappointment and pain,” Mr. Gantz said early Tuesday. “It’s not what we wanted to happen.” | |
| The Joint List appeared to have won 14 or 15 seats, which would be a record for Arab representation in Parliament. It now has 13. | The Joint List appeared to have won 14 or 15 seats, which would be a record for Arab representation in Parliament. It now has 13. |
| Since Mr. Netanyahu is facing felony prosecution, it is unclear whether the president, Reuven Rivlin, can legally invite him to form a government. The situation has no precedent and the Supreme Court, perhaps hoping a third election would render the question moot, avoided ruling on the subject in January. | Since Mr. Netanyahu is facing felony prosecution, it is unclear whether the president, Reuven Rivlin, can legally invite him to form a government. The situation has no precedent and the Supreme Court, perhaps hoping a third election would render the question moot, avoided ruling on the subject in January. |
| But the court will almost certainly now be asked to intervene, forcing its unelected judges to choose between disqualifying an elected leader from taking power or allowing a leader who is accused of bribery, fraud and breach of trust to form a new government. | But the court will almost certainly now be asked to intervene, forcing its unelected judges to choose between disqualifying an elected leader from taking power or allowing a leader who is accused of bribery, fraud and breach of trust to form a new government. |
| At a minimum, Mr. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving premier, could use the electoral result to bolster his hand in negotiating a plea bargain. | At a minimum, Mr. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving premier, could use the electoral result to bolster his hand in negotiating a plea bargain. |
| “This would be a very dramatic test for Israeli democracy and the rule of law,” said Gideon Rahat, a professor of political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. “He’ll use his majority to say: The people supported me, and who is the court to decide otherwise?” | “This would be a very dramatic test for Israeli democracy and the rule of law,” said Gideon Rahat, a professor of political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. “He’ll use his majority to say: The people supported me, and who is the court to decide otherwise?” |
| A new term for Mr. Netanyahu would also clear away domestic political impediments to annexing territory in the occupied West Bank, a move endorsed by the Trump administration and considered illegal by most of the world. | A new term for Mr. Netanyahu would also clear away domestic political impediments to annexing territory in the occupied West Bank, a move endorsed by the Trump administration and considered illegal by most of the world. |
| And it would renew the control of Mr. Netanyahu’s ultra-Orthodox allies over matters of religion and state, affecting emotionally charged matters like marriage and conversion that have torn at the fabric of Israeli society and driven a wedge between the country and liberal American Jews. | And it would renew the control of Mr. Netanyahu’s ultra-Orthodox allies over matters of religion and state, affecting emotionally charged matters like marriage and conversion that have torn at the fabric of Israeli society and driven a wedge between the country and liberal American Jews. |
| Mr. Gantz, who had tried to rally Israelis behind the rule of law, had argued that even a narrow advantage for Mr. Netanyahu in Parliament could lead to a dangerous slide into autocracy. | Mr. Gantz, who had tried to rally Israelis behind the rule of law, had argued that even a narrow advantage for Mr. Netanyahu in Parliament could lead to a dangerous slide into autocracy. |
| Mr. Gantz had also endorsed the West Bank annexation in principle, but with the important caveat that he would not proceed with it outside of a negotiated settlement with the Palestinians or without broad international support. | Mr. Gantz had also endorsed the West Bank annexation in principle, but with the important caveat that he would not proceed with it outside of a negotiated settlement with the Palestinians or without broad international support. |
| The prospect of an invigorated right-wing government pushing to annex West Bank land sent shudders through the Israeli peace camp and drew plaintive reactions from the Palestinians. | The prospect of an invigorated right-wing government pushing to annex West Bank land sent shudders through the Israeli peace camp and drew plaintive reactions from the Palestinians. |
| “It is obvious that settlement, occupation and apartheid have won the Israeli elections,” Saeb Erekat, the veteran Palestinian negotiator, wrote on Twitter, adding that Mr. Netanyahu’s campaign was on “the wrong side of history.” | “It is obvious that settlement, occupation and apartheid have won the Israeli elections,” Saeb Erekat, the veteran Palestinian negotiator, wrote on Twitter, adding that Mr. Netanyahu’s campaign was on “the wrong side of history.” |
| The results reflect an uptick in turnout, the strongest since 2015, despite the ugliness of the campaign’s final weeks and fears of the new coronavirus. | The results reflect an uptick in turnout, the strongest since 2015, despite the ugliness of the campaign’s final weeks and fears of the new coronavirus. |
| But voting appeared markedly heavier in the strongholds of Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud party, analysts said, particularly in Israel’s so-called peripheral areas, from the desert city of Beersheba in the south to Kiryat Shemona on the Lebanese border. | But voting appeared markedly heavier in the strongholds of Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud party, analysts said, particularly in Israel’s so-called peripheral areas, from the desert city of Beersheba in the south to Kiryat Shemona on the Lebanese border. |
| By contrast, late in the day Mr. Gantz and his allies were pleading with residents of Tel Aviv, a liberal bastion, to hurry to the polls. | By contrast, late in the day Mr. Gantz and his allies were pleading with residents of Tel Aviv, a liberal bastion, to hurry to the polls. |
| The left-wing Labor-Gesher-Meretz alliance appeared to collapse, to six or seven seats in Parliament, down from 11, exit polls showed. Some of its voters appeared to have gravitated toward the Joint List, which made a strong push for liberal Jewish support. | |
| Avigdor Liberman’s ultranationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party, which abandoned Mr. Netanyahu’s bloc after the April election, was projected to win six or seven seats. That could still be enough to offset Mr. Netanyahu’s lead. | |
| Special polling places were set up in outdoor tents for people quarantined because of the new coronavirus, and lines were so long that election officials added two more such locations late in the day and extended their hours of operation. Nearly 7,000 people in quarantine had voted by 7 p.m. | Special polling places were set up in outdoor tents for people quarantined because of the new coronavirus, and lines were so long that election officials added two more such locations late in the day and extended their hours of operation. Nearly 7,000 people in quarantine had voted by 7 p.m. |
| Mr. Gantz, who first entered politics a year ago after a distinguished military career, made integrity and basic decency the core of his campaign against Mr. Netanyahu. He accused Mr. Netanyahu of Mafioso-like tactics and of wanting to hold onto power at any cost. | Mr. Gantz, who first entered politics a year ago after a distinguished military career, made integrity and basic decency the core of his campaign against Mr. Netanyahu. He accused Mr. Netanyahu of Mafioso-like tactics and of wanting to hold onto power at any cost. |
| But Mr. Netanyahu, 70, tried to deflect attention from his legal troubles and damage Mr. Gantz’s image with swing voters. Mr. Netanyahu questioned Mr. Gantz’s competence and mental stability, while his allies orchestrated damaging leaks about Mr. Gantz’s character and announced a new investigation of his brief private-sector career. Mr. Netanyahu’s son Yair spread unsubstantiated rumors about Mr. Gantz’s personal life. | But Mr. Netanyahu, 70, tried to deflect attention from his legal troubles and damage Mr. Gantz’s image with swing voters. Mr. Netanyahu questioned Mr. Gantz’s competence and mental stability, while his allies orchestrated damaging leaks about Mr. Gantz’s character and announced a new investigation of his brief private-sector career. Mr. Netanyahu’s son Yair spread unsubstantiated rumors about Mr. Gantz’s personal life. |
| In one sordid chain of events, Mr. Gantz’s top strategist unburdened himself to a rabbi and, in the process, denigrated his client. The rabbi turned out to have been secretly recording their conversation. The tape wound up on the nightly news last week. | In one sordid chain of events, Mr. Gantz’s top strategist unburdened himself to a rabbi and, in the process, denigrated his client. The rabbi turned out to have been secretly recording their conversation. The tape wound up on the nightly news last week. |
| The prime minister denied any hand in it, but yet another recording showed Mr. Netanyahu had been directly involved. | The prime minister denied any hand in it, but yet another recording showed Mr. Netanyahu had been directly involved. |
| The mudslinging and cutthroat machinations prompted Mr. Rivlin to offer an apology to the Israeli public on Monday morning. | The mudslinging and cutthroat machinations prompted Mr. Rivlin to offer an apology to the Israeli public on Monday morning. |
| “I have a bad sense, even a sense of shame when facing you,” he said upon casting his ballot in Jerusalem. “We simply don’t deserve this,” he added. “We don’t deserve another terrible election campaign that declines to the point of filth.” | “I have a bad sense, even a sense of shame when facing you,” he said upon casting his ballot in Jerusalem. “We simply don’t deserve this,” he added. “We don’t deserve another terrible election campaign that declines to the point of filth.” |
| In public, Mr. Netanyahu was a whirlwind of upbeat energy on the stump, promising new hospitals, lower prices and other inducements tailored to marijuana smokers, Ethiopian-Israelis and Arab citizens, among others. | In public, Mr. Netanyahu was a whirlwind of upbeat energy on the stump, promising new hospitals, lower prices and other inducements tailored to marijuana smokers, Ethiopian-Israelis and Arab citizens, among others. |
| By contrast, Mr. Gantz’s message, that Mr. Netanyahu had lost the moral authority to lead, was dour and one-note. | By contrast, Mr. Gantz’s message, that Mr. Netanyahu had lost the moral authority to lead, was dour and one-note. |
| Some voters said they had been turned off by the ugliness of Mr. Netanyahu’s campaign, and by the criminal charges against him. | Some voters said they had been turned off by the ugliness of Mr. Netanyahu’s campaign, and by the criminal charges against him. |
| “Bibi is corrupt and his campaign was dirty,” said Rotem Cnaan, a 33-year-old shopkeeper in Rehovot who said he usually votes for Likud but sat out Monday’s vote. “I can’t hear his voice anymore, I can’t stand his intonation, and his son Yair is just shocking.” | “Bibi is corrupt and his campaign was dirty,” said Rotem Cnaan, a 33-year-old shopkeeper in Rehovot who said he usually votes for Likud but sat out Monday’s vote. “I can’t hear his voice anymore, I can’t stand his intonation, and his son Yair is just shocking.” |
| But Netanyahu loyalists said they saw him as a statesman of extraordinary gifts. “I’m a big believer in Netanyahu,” said Kobi Dadon, a leader in a firefighters’ union, after voting in Jerusalem. “We have never had such a leader in Israel. We had Begin and Rabin, and he is that caliber.” | But Netanyahu loyalists said they saw him as a statesman of extraordinary gifts. “I’m a big believer in Netanyahu,” said Kobi Dadon, a leader in a firefighters’ union, after voting in Jerusalem. “We have never had such a leader in Israel. We had Begin and Rabin, and he is that caliber.” |
| The acrimonious campaign was the capstone to an unusually bitter year in Israeli politics. Mr. Netanyahu’s caretaker government lacked the mandate to make major spending and policy decisions, while politicians of all stripes were distracted by the back-to-back-to-back election fights. | The acrimonious campaign was the capstone to an unusually bitter year in Israeli politics. Mr. Netanyahu’s caretaker government lacked the mandate to make major spending and policy decisions, while politicians of all stripes were distracted by the back-to-back-to-back election fights. |
| Though Mr. Netanyahu last year passed the record of David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, to become the country’s longest-serving head of government, he also became the only sitting prime minister to be indicted on criminal charges. He was charged in November with offering political favors to media moguls in exchange for fawning coverage and expensive gifts. | Though Mr. Netanyahu last year passed the record of David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister, to become the country’s longest-serving head of government, he also became the only sitting prime minister to be indicted on criminal charges. He was charged in November with offering political favors to media moguls in exchange for fawning coverage and expensive gifts. |
| The political arena also grew increasingly devoid of meaningful debate as the campaign became a personality contest between Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gantz, who portrayed each other as, respectively, a dictator-in-waiting and a political incompetent. | The political arena also grew increasingly devoid of meaningful debate as the campaign became a personality contest between Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Gantz, who portrayed each other as, respectively, a dictator-in-waiting and a political incompetent. |
| Much was at stake for Israel’s relations with the Palestinians, particularly in light of the Trump administration’s green light to Israel to begin annexing West Bank territory. | Much was at stake for Israel’s relations with the Palestinians, particularly in light of the Trump administration’s green light to Israel to begin annexing West Bank territory. |
| Mr. Netanyahu held off on annexing at the White House’s request, but he promised right-wing voters that he would proceed after the election. Mr. Gantz also embraced the Trump plan, which heavily favors Israeli interests above those of the Palestinians, but said he would not annex West Bank territory unilaterally. | Mr. Netanyahu held off on annexing at the White House’s request, but he promised right-wing voters that he would proceed after the election. Mr. Gantz also embraced the Trump plan, which heavily favors Israeli interests above those of the Palestinians, but said he would not annex West Bank territory unilaterally. |
| Arab citizens of Israel, who make up about 20 percent of the population, showed unusual energy heading into Monday’s vote, believing they at last had the opportunity to help topple Mr. Netanyahu, who has long tapped into anti-Arab sentiment to whip up support from his right-wing Jewish base. | Arab citizens of Israel, who make up about 20 percent of the population, showed unusual energy heading into Monday’s vote, believing they at last had the opportunity to help topple Mr. Netanyahu, who has long tapped into anti-Arab sentiment to whip up support from his right-wing Jewish base. |
| With a well-financed and spirited get-out-the-vote effort, the combined slate of predominantly Arab parties known as the Joint List hoped for as many as 16 seats. It now holds 13, a high-water mark. A religious Muslim woman in the list’s No. 15 spot, Iman Khatib Yasin, stood a chance of becoming the first hijab-wearing lawmaker in Israeli history. | With a well-financed and spirited get-out-the-vote effort, the combined slate of predominantly Arab parties known as the Joint List hoped for as many as 16 seats. It now holds 13, a high-water mark. A religious Muslim woman in the list’s No. 15 spot, Iman Khatib Yasin, stood a chance of becoming the first hijab-wearing lawmaker in Israeli history. |
| Many Arab voters were also enraged by Mr. Trump’s plan — widely referred to as the “Deal of the Century” — because it would legitimize Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, give Israel complete control of Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as their capital, and severely restrict the sovereignty of a proposed Palestinian state. | Many Arab voters were also enraged by Mr. Trump’s plan — widely referred to as the “Deal of the Century” — because it would legitimize Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, give Israel complete control of Jerusalem, which the Palestinians want as their capital, and severely restrict the sovereignty of a proposed Palestinian state. |
| “I never believed that the Parliament elections could be beneficial for the Arabs,” said Yazeed Baloum, a 33-year-old building contractor, after voting in the Arab town of Taybeh. “But Netanyahu’s racism and incitement against us made me determined to vote — as well as the Deal of the Century.” | “I never believed that the Parliament elections could be beneficial for the Arabs,” said Yazeed Baloum, a 33-year-old building contractor, after voting in the Arab town of Taybeh. “But Netanyahu’s racism and incitement against us made me determined to vote — as well as the Deal of the Century.” |
| Mohammed Najib contributed reporting from Taybeh, Israel, and Gabby Sobelman from Rehovot, Israel. | Mohammed Najib contributed reporting from Taybeh, Israel, and Gabby Sobelman from Rehovot, Israel. |