10:13: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu phoned Bayit Yehudi leader Naftali Bennett Tuesday evening following the release of the first exit polls.
Bennett congratulated Netanyahu for his “victory,” and the two mutually agreed to begin negotiations for the formation of a nationalistic coalition government that would work to better the security and well-being of the Israeli people.
22:29
Bennett sounds upbeat tone despite fall to 8 seats
Jewish Home’s Naftali Bennett sounded a decidedly upbeat tone, despite the party’s collapse in the exit polls. From a high of 17 seats in polls a couple months ago, the party took just 8 seats in exit polls today.
“This is a great night for the people of Israel,” Bennett insisted to Channel 2. “The right-wing camp won.”
“I’m very glad the national camp won. The people chose right very clearly,” affirms the party’s number-two Ayelet Shaked.
22:26
Likud supporters celebrate ‘amazing victory’
At Likud campaign headquarters in Tel Aviv, activists celebrate the apparent win.
“It’s an amazing victory,” one party activist says, adding that despite the neck-to-neck results, the right-wing camp won. “There’s no such thing as a left-wing government.”
Despite the feeling of victory, however, cheers of “Bibi, Bibi” last only a few seconds, as the party officials and activists present wait for the entrance of the prime minister.
Its look like Israel will have a nationalist-religious coalition government.