This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-56504661
The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Israel election: Netanyahu claims 'huge win' for right-wing parties | Israel election: Netanyahu claims 'huge win' for right-wing parties |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The election has been widely seen as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership | The election has been widely seen as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership |
| Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed a "huge win" for the right in Israel's fourth election in two years, though exit polls suggest he may fail to secure a majority in parliament. | Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed a "huge win" for the right in Israel's fourth election in two years, though exit polls suggest he may fail to secure a majority in parliament. |
| Mr Netanyahu's Likud party and its allies are projected to get 53 or 54 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. | Mr Netanyahu's Likud party and its allies are projected to get 53 or 54 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. |
| Parties opposed to the prime minister staying in office look set to win 59. | Parties opposed to the prime minister staying in office look set to win 59. |
| It means the nationalist Yamina party led by former Netanyahu loyalist Naftali Bennett could act as kingmaker. | It means the nationalist Yamina party led by former Netanyahu loyalist Naftali Bennett could act as kingmaker. |
| It is forecast to win seven or eight seats and has not explicitly declared which side it will support. | It is forecast to win seven or eight seats and has not explicitly declared which side it will support. |
| "I will do only what is good for the State of Israel," Mr Bennett said in a statement after the exit polls were released. | "I will do only what is good for the State of Israel," Mr Bennett said in a statement after the exit polls were released. |
| He added that he had told Mr Netanyahu that Yamina would await the final results before deciding on its next steps. | He added that he had told Mr Netanyahu that Yamina would await the final results before deciding on its next steps. |
| Israel's Central Elections Committee does not expect all of the votes to be counted before Wednesday afternoon due to coronavirus-related restrictions. | Israel's Central Elections Committee does not expect all of the votes to be counted before Wednesday afternoon due to coronavirus-related restrictions. |
| Election hopes and fears play out in crater town | Election hopes and fears play out in crater town |
| Israel's commando-turned-PM | Israel's commando-turned-PM |
| "Israeli citizens - thank you," Mr Netanyahu tweeted late on Tuesday. "You gave a huge win to the right and Likud under my leadership. Likud is the biggest party by far." | "Israeli citizens - thank you," Mr Netanyahu tweeted late on Tuesday. "You gave a huge win to the right and Likud under my leadership. Likud is the biggest party by far." |
| "It's clear most Israelis are right-wing, and want a strong, stable right-wing government," he added. | "It's clear most Israelis are right-wing, and want a strong, stable right-wing government," he added. |
| Just over 67.2% of those eligible cast their ballots in the election, which was widely seen as a referendum on Mr Netanyahu's leadership. | Just over 67.2% of those eligible cast their ballots in the election, which was widely seen as a referendum on Mr Netanyahu's leadership. |
| The 71-year-old prime minister has been in power continuously since 2009, having served an earlier three-year term in the late 1990s. | The 71-year-old prime minister has been in power continuously since 2009, having served an earlier three-year term in the late 1990s. |
| His campaign focused on Israel's world-leading Covid-19 vaccination programme and his diplomatic success in normalising ties with some Arab countries. | His campaign focused on Israel's world-leading Covid-19 vaccination programme and his diplomatic success in normalising ties with some Arab countries. |
| But his opponents from across the political spectrum argued that he should not remain in office while standing trial on corruption charges. He denies any wrongdoing. | But his opponents from across the political spectrum argued that he should not remain in office while standing trial on corruption charges. He denies any wrongdoing. |
| After the previous three elections neither Mr Netanyahu nor his rivals were able to form a stable governing coalition. | After the previous three elections neither Mr Netanyahu nor his rivals were able to form a stable governing coalition. |
| The current national unity government, which was the result of a power-sharing deal with Defence Minister Benny Gantz, collapsed in December after just seven months. | The current national unity government, which was the result of a power-sharing deal with Defence Minister Benny Gantz, collapsed in December after just seven months. |
| Mr Gantz, whose Blue and White party is projected by the exit polls to win seven seats, said on Tuesday that he would "do everything I can to unite the pro-change bloc" - a reference to those wanting a new prime minister. |