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| Israel election setback for Binyamin Netanyahu as centrists gain ground | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Binyamin Netanyahu appears to have suffered a major blow in Israel's general election after television exit polls indicated the narrowest of victories for the rightwing-religious block. There was also a surprisingly strong showing for a new centrist party formed last year, prompting speculation that the prime minister may seek a more moderate coalition to govern Israel for the next few years. | Binyamin Netanyahu appears to have suffered a major blow in Israel's general election after television exit polls indicated the narrowest of victories for the rightwing-religious block. There was also a surprisingly strong showing for a new centrist party formed last year, prompting speculation that the prime minister may seek a more moderate coalition to govern Israel for the next few years. |
| Predictions by three television news channels gave 61 parliamentary seats to the rightwing and religious parties, and 59 to the centre, left and Israeli-Arab parties. | Predictions by three television news channels gave 61 parliamentary seats to the rightwing and religious parties, and 59 to the centre, left and Israeli-Arab parties. |
| Netanyahu remains on course to continue as prime minister as his rightwing electoral alliance, Likud-Beiteinu, looks set to be the biggest party with 31 seats out of 120 in the next parliament. | Netanyahu remains on course to continue as prime minister as his rightwing electoral alliance, Likud-Beiteinu, looks set to be the biggest party with 31 seats out of 120 in the next parliament. |
| But Yesh Atid, a new centrist party led by a former television personality, was predicted to come second with 18 or 19 seats. Yesh Atid concentrated its election campaign on socio-economic issues and removing the exemption for military service for ultra-orthodox Jews. | But Yesh Atid, a new centrist party led by a former television personality, was predicted to come second with 18 or 19 seats. Yesh Atid concentrated its election campaign on socio-economic issues and removing the exemption for military service for ultra-orthodox Jews. |
| Voters turned out in unprecedented numbers in Tuesday's election, with a record 55.5% of Israel's 5.6m eligible voters casting their ballots by 6pm, four hours before the polls closed, surprising observers who had predicted a lower turnout than in the last election in 2009. Sunshine and unusually high temperatures encouraged voter participation. | Voters turned out in unprecedented numbers in Tuesday's election, with a record 55.5% of Israel's 5.6m eligible voters casting their ballots by 6pm, four hours before the polls closed, surprising observers who had predicted a lower turnout than in the last election in 2009. Sunshine and unusually high temperatures encouraged voter participation. |
| Shortly after the exit polls were broadcast, Dov Lipman, who expected to win a seat for Yesh Atid, said: "This is a very clear statement that the people of Israel want to see a different direction. We will get the country back on track." | Shortly after the exit polls were broadcast, Dov Lipman, who expected to win a seat for Yesh Atid, said: "This is a very clear statement that the people of Israel want to see a different direction. We will get the country back on track." |
| Labour was set to be the third largest party, with 17 seats, followed by the ultra-nationalist Jewish Home with 12 seats. The ultra-orthodox party Shas was also expected to win around 12 seats, and the leftist party Meretz made an unexpectedly strong showing, with six or seven seats, more than doubling its current presence. | Labour was set to be the third largest party, with 17 seats, followed by the ultra-nationalist Jewish Home with 12 seats. The ultra-orthodox party Shas was also expected to win around 12 seats, and the leftist party Meretz made an unexpectedly strong showing, with six or seven seats, more than doubling its current presence. |
| Erel Margalit of the Labour party said the exit polls indicated "a protest vote against Netanyahu" and that the huge social justice protests that swept Israel 18 months ago "were not a fringe phenomena. Perhaps some of it is moving from the streets into the political arena". | Erel Margalit of the Labour party said the exit polls indicated "a protest vote against Netanyahu" and that the huge social justice protests that swept Israel 18 months ago "were not a fringe phenomena. Perhaps some of it is moving from the streets into the political arena". |
| Gideon Saar of Likud, who was education minister in the last government, said it clear from the exit polls that "the next prime minister will be Binyamin Netanyahu. He will receive – so we believe, based on the results – the role of forming the next government. I am of the opinion that this government needs to be as broad as possible." | Gideon Saar of Likud, who was education minister in the last government, said it clear from the exit polls that "the next prime minister will be Binyamin Netanyahu. He will receive – so we believe, based on the results – the role of forming the next government. I am of the opinion that this government needs to be as broad as possible." |
| Speculation about the possible composition of the next coalition government began in earnest after the exit polls. Israel's electoral system of proportional representation has ensured that no single party has gained an absolute majority since the creation of the state almost 65 years ago. | Speculation about the possible composition of the next coalition government began in earnest after the exit polls. Israel's electoral system of proportional representation has ensured that no single party has gained an absolute majority since the creation of the state almost 65 years ago. |
| As the leader of the biggest party, Netanyahu will be first in line to assemble a coalition. | As the leader of the biggest party, Netanyahu will be first in line to assemble a coalition. |
| Although Netanyahu's natural partners are the smaller rightwing and religious parties, he is likely to be keen to include Yesh Atid and possibly Hatnua, which is led by former foreign minister Tzipi Livni, which is expected to win seven seats. | Although Netanyahu's natural partners are the smaller rightwing and religious parties, he is likely to be keen to include Yesh Atid and possibly Hatnua, which is led by former foreign minister Tzipi Livni, which is expected to win seven seats. |
| However, Livni's insistence on a return to meaningful negotiations with the Palestinians could deter Netanyahu from inviting her join him. Yesh Atid is much more focussed on domestic issues than the peace process. | However, Livni's insistence on a return to meaningful negotiations with the Palestinians could deter Netanyahu from inviting her join him. Yesh Atid is much more focussed on domestic issues than the peace process. |
| Earlier, British foreign secretary William Hague warned that the prospects of a Palestinian state alongside an Israeli state were receding as a result of settlement expansion. "I hope that whatever Israeli government emerges … that it will recognise that we are approaching the last chance to bring about such a solution," Hague told parliament. "I condemn recent Israeli decisions to expand settlements. I speak regularly to Israeli leaders stressing our profound concern that Israel's settlement policy is losing it the support of the international community and will make a two-state solution impossible." | Earlier, British foreign secretary William Hague warned that the prospects of a Palestinian state alongside an Israeli state were receding as a result of settlement expansion. "I hope that whatever Israeli government emerges … that it will recognise that we are approaching the last chance to bring about such a solution," Hague told parliament. "I condemn recent Israeli decisions to expand settlements. I speak regularly to Israeli leaders stressing our profound concern that Israel's settlement policy is losing it the support of the international community and will make a two-state solution impossible." |
| He added: "There is a clock ticking with potentially disastrous consequences for the peace process." | He added: "There is a clock ticking with potentially disastrous consequences for the peace process." |
| The European Union and the United States were considering "incentives and disincentives" to encourage the parties to return to negotiations, he said. | The European Union and the United States were considering "incentives and disincentives" to encourage the parties to return to negotiations, he said. |
| Official election results will not be published until next week, but the Israeli president, Shimon Peres, will begin the process of selecting a party leader to assemble a coalition on Wednesday. Israel's electoral system of proportional representation has ensured that no single party has gained an absolute majority since the creation of the state almost 65 years ago. More than 30 parties contested Tuesday's elections. | Official election results will not be published until next week, but the Israeli president, Shimon Peres, will begin the process of selecting a party leader to assemble a coalition on Wednesday. Israel's electoral system of proportional representation has ensured that no single party has gained an absolute majority since the creation of the state almost 65 years ago. More than 30 parties contested Tuesday's elections. |