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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Israelis await election outcome | Israelis await election outcome |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Counting is under way in Israel after polls closed in the country's snap general elections. | Counting is under way in Israel after polls closed in the country's snap general elections. |
| Results are expected to be close, with exit polls giving the ruling centrist Kadima Party 30 seats to 29 for the right-wing opposition Likud. | Results are expected to be close, with exit polls giving the ruling centrist Kadima Party 30 seats to 29 for the right-wing opposition Likud. |
| Ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu is forecast to be third, pushing Labour into an unprecedented fourth place. | Ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu is forecast to be third, pushing Labour into an unprecedented fourth place. |
| The first official results are not expected for several hours. Final results will come within days. | The first official results are not expected for several hours. Final results will come within days. |
| Cheers erupted at Kadima's headquarters as the exit polls were announced on Israeli TV. | Cheers erupted at Kadima's headquarters as the exit polls were announced on Israeli TV. |
| Likud, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, had held a solid lead in opinion polls prior to the election, but Kadima, led by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, closed the gap in the final days. | Likud, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, had held a solid lead in opinion polls prior to the election, but Kadima, led by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, closed the gap in the final days. |
| Israelis define their politics according to their views on the conflict with the Palestinians class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/7878046.stm">Jeremy Bowen's Election Diary | |
| Despite the exit polls, Mr Netanyahu claimed victory, saying a Likud-led government will lead Israel. | |
| Correspondents say that a right-wing coalition would complicate things for US President Barack Obama, who is promising a strong push for peace in the Middle East. | Correspondents say that a right-wing coalition would complicate things for US President Barack Obama, who is promising a strong push for peace in the Middle East. |
| Analysts say Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beitenu, could be a key figure in deciding the next government. | Analysts say Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beitenu, could be a key figure in deciding the next government. |
| "Lieberman has emerged as the kingmaker," said Menachem Hofnung, a professor of political science at Hebrew University. | "Lieberman has emerged as the kingmaker," said Menachem Hofnung, a professor of political science at Hebrew University. |
| "He is the winner of these elections and it depends on who he sides with over the next few weeks as to who will be prime minister." | "He is the winner of these elections and it depends on who he sides with over the next few weeks as to who will be prime minister." |
| Coalition task | Coalition task |
| Elections were called early after Ms Livni failed to form a new government following Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's decision to step down last year amid a corruption probe against him. | Elections were called early after Ms Livni failed to form a new government following Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's decision to step down last year amid a corruption probe against him. |
| The Labour Party appears to have performed poorly | The Labour Party appears to have performed poorly |
| Even if the exit polls are proved right, a strong showing by right-wing rivals will make it difficult for Ms Livni to form a coalition government. | Even if the exit polls are proved right, a strong showing by right-wing rivals will make it difficult for Ms Livni to form a coalition government. |
| Israel's president traditionally chooses the leader of the party that wins the most parliamentary seats to form a coalition government. | Israel's president traditionally chooses the leader of the party that wins the most parliamentary seats to form a coalition government. |
| But he can also choose any party leader who he believes has the best chance of doing so. | But he can also choose any party leader who he believes has the best chance of doing so. |
| President Shimon Peres is expected to hold talks with party leaders later this week, after the final results are in. | President Shimon Peres is expected to hold talks with party leaders later this week, after the final results are in. |
| Once he has asked a party leader to form a government, he or she has up to 42 days to do so. If the coalition attempt fails, Mr Peres can ask another leader to assume the task. | Once he has asked a party leader to form a government, he or she has up to 42 days to do so. If the coalition attempt fails, Mr Peres can ask another leader to assume the task. |
| Mr Olmert will stay on as caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed. | Mr Olmert will stay on as caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed. |
| The election has been dominated by security issues following Israel's offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. | The election has been dominated by security issues following Israel's offensive in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip. |
| Although the Palestinian Authority has not expressed preference for any candidate, its senior negotiator, Saeb Erakat, expressed dismay that right-wing parties had performed so well. | Although the Palestinian Authority has not expressed preference for any candidate, its senior negotiator, Saeb Erakat, expressed dismay that right-wing parties had performed so well. |
| "It is obvious the Israelis have voted to paralyse the peace process," he said. | "It is obvious the Israelis have voted to paralyse the peace process," he said. |