Israeli elections: 4th term or end of Netanyahu era?
As Israelis are heading to the polls to cast their ballots for the 20th Knesset, PM Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking a fourth term in office. But the outcome is too close to call as the Likud party faces strong opposition from the Zionist Union.
18 March 2015
04:44 GMTPresident Reuven Rivlin has also announced that he will strive for a national unity government.
— Paula Slier (@PaulaSlier_RT) March 18, 2015- 03:24 GMT
Israel’s Haaretz Daily reports that 99.5 percent of the ballots have been counted. Likud is in the lead with 29 Knesset seats, compared to the Zionist Union’s 24. The Joint List stands third with 14 seats.
- 03:05 GMT
US President Barack Obama “remains committed to working very closely with the winner of the ongoing elections to cement and further deepen the strong relationship between the Us and Israel,” said White House press secretary Josh Earnest on Tuesday, according to the Times of Israel. Earnest added that Obama remains “confident” that he will have a productive relationship with whomever the Israeli people choose.
- 02:14 GMT
#BREAKING: Preliminary Israeli vote data puts Netanyahu in lead with 24%
— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) March 18, 2015 - 00:38 GMT
2.4m votes tallied in #israelex and Zionist Union closing the gap. Likud at 24.4% and Zionist Union at 19%
— Ilån Bεn Zıon (@IlanBenZion) March 18, 2015 17 March 2015
23:56 GMTFinal voter turnout at 71.8%, four percent more than 2013 election #IsraelElections
— Paula Slier (@PaulaSlier_RT) March 17, 2015- 23:16 GMT
After claiming victory for his Likud party, Netanyahu expressed the desire to form a coalition government “without delay,” inviting other right-wing politicians to join. “Reality does not take a break,” he told his supporters.
Netanyahu: Now we have to build a strong, stable govt that will deal with welfare and security.
— Paula Slier (@PaulaSlier_RT) March 17, 2015 - 22:29 GMT
Netanyahu’s main rival Isaac Herzog from the Zionist Union says that he will make "every effort" to form a coalition.
Coming out of the exit polls, Herzog also told his supporters that “this result allows us to return to power”.
- 21:16 GMT
On his Twitter account, Netanyahu said that “against all odds” the election became “a great victory for the national camp led by Likud, a great victory for the people of Israel.”
UPDATE: #Netanyahu declares victory for #Likud party in #IsraelElectionshttp://t.co/E6FY6SoXm1pic.twitter.com/DyrEQjMAY5
— RT (@RT_com) March 17, 2015 - 20:56 GMT
3 TV networks release their exit polls in Israel's election. Voters rally around center-left & center-right pillars pic.twitter.com/ooWPH28m0F
— Josh Block (@JoshBlockDC) March 17, 2015
