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| Israel elections: Netanyahu in lead, exit polls say | Israel elections: Netanyahu in lead, exit polls say |
| (37 minutes later) | |
| Mr Netanyahu's supporters cheered and danced when the exit polls were announced | Mr Netanyahu's supporters cheered and danced when the exit polls were announced |
| Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on course for victory in Tuesday's elections, according to exit polls. | |
| The polls, which forecast the outcome before official results, give his right-wing bloc a slim majority of seats over his opponents. | The polls, which forecast the outcome before official results, give his right-wing bloc a slim majority of seats over his opponents. |
| Such a result would mark a dramatic comeback for Mr Netanyahu, toppled last year after 12 straight years in power. | Such a result would mark a dramatic comeback for Mr Netanyahu, toppled last year after 12 straight years in power. |
| The election was widely seen as a vote for or against Mr Netanyahu's return. | The election was widely seen as a vote for or against Mr Netanyahu's return. |
| Official results, which could still produce a different outcome, are expected in the coming hours. | Official results, which could still produce a different outcome, are expected in the coming hours. |
| As the polls were announced at 22:00 (20:00 GMT) upbeat music burst from loud speakers at the central venue of Mr Netanyahu's Likud party in Jerusalem. | As the polls were announced at 22:00 (20:00 GMT) upbeat music burst from loud speakers at the central venue of Mr Netanyahu's Likud party in Jerusalem. |
| "It looks like we can be optimistic and have some hope we are about to get a stable coalition with Bibi [Mr Netanyahu] as the prime minister," said 34-year-old Likud supporter David Adler, from Jerusalem. | "It looks like we can be optimistic and have some hope we are about to get a stable coalition with Bibi [Mr Netanyahu] as the prime minister," said 34-year-old Likud supporter David Adler, from Jerusalem. |
| "But as it's been in the past three years, nothing it sure until the coalition is set up," he cautioned. | "But as it's been in the past three years, nothing it sure until the coalition is set up," he cautioned. |
| Mr Netanyahu is forecast to replace Yair Lapid, who toppled him just over a year ago. | Mr Netanyahu is forecast to replace Yair Lapid, who toppled him just over a year ago. |
| Mr Netanyahu, 73, is one of Israel's most controversial political figures, loathed by many on the centre and left but adored by Likud's grassroots supporters. He is a firm supporter of Israel's settlement-building project in the West Bank, occupied since the 1967 Middle East war. Settlements there are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. | |
| He opposes the creation of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as a solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict - a formula supported by most of the international community, including the Biden administration in the US. | |
| Mr Netanyahu is also currently on trial for alleged corruption, fraud and breach of trust - charges he fiercely denies. His possible partners in a Likud-led coalition government have said they would reform the law, in a move which would bring a halt to his trial. | |
| Israel TV exit polls suggest Mr Netanyahu's bloc will command 61 or 62 seats in the 120-seat knesset (parliament). | Israel TV exit polls suggest Mr Netanyahu's bloc will command 61 or 62 seats in the 120-seat knesset (parliament). |
| According to the polls, Likud stands to be the biggest party, with 30-31 seats, commanding a majority with the support of nationalist and religious parties. | According to the polls, Likud stands to be the biggest party, with 30-31 seats, commanding a majority with the support of nationalist and religious parties. |
| Likud's ultranationalist ally Religious Zionism appears to have won 14 seats, which would make it the third largest party. | Likud's ultranationalist ally Religious Zionism appears to have won 14 seats, which would make it the third largest party. |
| The centre-left party of incumbent Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who brought down Mr Netanyahu in elections last year, is forecast to win 24 seats. | The centre-left party of incumbent Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who brought down Mr Netanyahu in elections last year, is forecast to win 24 seats. |
| If the polls are confirmed, it will stave off the prospect of a sixth election in just four years after analysts predicted deadlock. | If the polls are confirmed, it will stave off the prospect of a sixth election in just four years after analysts predicted deadlock. |
| It would mark a remarkable turnaround for Mr Netanyahu, who's political future was widely written off after Mr Lapid formed an unlikely alliance of ideologically diverse parties to take power in June 2021. | It would mark a remarkable turnaround for Mr Netanyahu, who's political future was widely written off after Mr Lapid formed an unlikely alliance of ideologically diverse parties to take power in June 2021. |
| At the time, Mr Netanyahu vowed to bring it down as quickly as possible. He engineered its collapse after just 12 months. |