Netanyahu, the longest-serving chief in Israeli historical past, has been a caretaker prime minister for greater than a yr as a divided nation
Netanyahu, the longest-serving chief in Israeli historical past, has been a caretaker prime minister for greater than a yr as a divided nation has weathered two inconclusive votes and extended political paralysis. With pre-election opinion polls forecasting one other impasse, Netanyahu had sought a late surge in assist to attain a parliamentary majority together with different nationalist events for a fourth consecutive time period in workplace and fifth total.
He appeared to get it within the type of a surprisingly excessive turnout regardless of the weariness accompanying the second repeat election.
Netanyahu tweeted a coronary heart emoji with the phrase” thanks” in addition to picture of himself surrounded by his household, aides and supporters proclaiming “an enormous victory for Israel.”
Miri Regev, a senior Likud member, proclaimed an “overwhelming victory” for Netanyahu’s get together.
“The nation had its say, a referendum that proved the belief of the folks in Netanyahu and within the Likud, with all of the indictments and all of the makes an attempt to depose Netanyahu,” Regev stated.
However because the exit polls scaled again Likud’s obvious efficiency, Netanyahu delayed what had been anticipated to be a joyous victory speech. At 1:30 a.m, Netanyahu nonetheless had not emerged at his get together’s headquarters.
Netanyahu’s Likud get together was projected to win 36-37 seats, a acquire from September, when it received 32. Gantz’s centrist Blue and White get together, which ran on a message that the prime minister is unfit to guide due to the intense costs in opposition to him, was projected to win 32-34 seats, roughly the identical quantity as in September.
Addressing a raucous crowd of supporters early Tuesday, Gantz didn’t concede defeat.
“This wasn’t the result that maybe we might have wished,” he…