Posted on 03/03/2020 6:58:42 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surged ahead of his chief political rival but looked set to fall two seats short of a governing majority in the country’s third election in under 12 months Monday, according to exit polling.
Netanyahu’s center-right Likud party was predicted to win 36 seats, while its rival, the centrist Blue and White party, would capture 32.
With roughly 90 percent of the votes already counted, both Netanyahu's right-wing bloc and Blue and White's centrist and left-wing bloc were set to fall short of the 61 seats needed to form a governing coalition in the 120-seat parliament, known as the Knesset.
The right-wing bloc looked set to win 59 seats — two seats short of the threshold. The center-left bloc was predicted to capture between 52 seats. No Israeli party has ever won an outright majority, which forces the larger parties to form blocs with smaller allies.
It remains unclear whether Netanyahu would be able to clinch the parliamentary majority needed to claim victory, but if the results match the exit polls, it will give the caretaker prime minister a welcome boost ahead of his trial on corruption charges that is slated to begin March 17.
Netanyahu lost no time in celebrating. He told a cheering crowd in Tel Aviv that his party "turned lemons into lemonade.
"What a joyous night," Netanyahu said. "This victory is especially sweet, because it is a victory against all odds."
The country’s unprecedented third election once again turned into a neck-and-neck race between Netanyahu and his chief political rival, former Israeli chief of staff Benny Gantz. In September, Gantz's Blue and White came in first, with 33 seats, trailed by Netanyahu's Likud, with 32. In April, the parties tied with 35 seats each.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
Netanyahu will try to reel in detectors to give him a majority. He should get it done when he begins work on forming his new government next week.
The three most likely defectors seem to have a personal grudge against Netanyahu. The might join the Right Bloc if Bibi was not PM. That may be one of their conditions.
what kind of detectors? vote detectors?
what goldstate meant was hes sending out detectors to look for defectors...
No I meant defectors. Needs to find two people to form a 61 seat coalition.
A minority government is also an option.
Current political parties in Israel:
Blue and White
Likud
Shas
Torah Judaism
Democratic Front for Peace and Equality
Labor
Habayit HaYehudi
Israel Beytenu
Kulanu
Meretz
United Arab List (Raam)
Am Ehad
Center Party
Gil - Gimla’ey Yisrael
Hatnua
Kadima
National Democratic Alliance (Balad)
National Union
National Union - Mafdal
Shinui
Yesh Atid
It’s amazing they can get anything done.
Not sure this report is accurate. I will wait until the votes are counted before I believe NBC’s prediction. Actually I never believe anything coming from the bowels of NBC without getting independent verification, which is a very rare occurrence.
‘Bowels of NBC’. What a horrible thought
‘Bowels of NBC’. What a horrible thought.
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Netanyahu calls win biggest victory of his life
thx!
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