Posted on 03/02/2020 5:49:13 PM PST by Conserv
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu succeeded in winning 60 seats for his bloc of right-wing and religious parties in Monday’s election, one less than he needed for a majority in the Knesset, according to exit polls on the three television networks. The first polls indicated that Netanyahu’s Likud won 36-37 seats. Its allies in Shas, UTJ and Yamina won 9, 7-8 and 6-7 respectively. The polls showed Blue and White with 33 seats, its ally Labor-Gesher-Meretz 6-7, the Joint List 14-15 and Yisrael Beytenu 6-8.
When Channel 13 updated its numbers at around 1 a.m. Israel time, Gantz gained one seat to 34 and the blocs shifted slightly, leaving the right-wing with only 59 seats.
Channel 12 also updated its numbers, giving Likud 37 seats, Blue and White 32, Arab Joint List 15, Shas 9, Yisrael Beytenu 7, UTJ 7, Labor-Gesher-Meretz 7 and Yamina 6. The numbers are expected to change overnight. The votes of soldiers, who tend to lean to the right, have not yet been counted and the Joint List tends to go down a seat when the soldiers’ votes are added. But, if the Right does not obtain its 61st seat, it could end up being because the far-right Otzma Yehudit refused Netanyahu’s repeated requests to quit the race.
Netanyahu immediately tweeted “thank you.” The outright victory in the third election in under a year is expected to enable Netanyahu to quickly form a right-wing coalition after having headed a caretaker government since December 2018. Netanyahu spoke to the heads of the parties in his camp immediately after the exit polls were announced and agreed to form a strong nationalist government as soon as possible. Latest articles from Jpost
Sources in Likud said he would even try to get a government in place before his criminal trial begins on March 17.
Blue and White MKs expressed disappointment with the results but said they did not expect the party to break up. They dismissed speculation that Blue and White leader Benny Gantz would quit politics.
Gantz thanked his supporters and told them: “I will continue to struggle for our ideology for you.” Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman responded: “We have to wait for the final results. Yisrael Beytenu won’t compromise a millimeter from what it promised its voters.”
The high turnout in the country’s unprecedented third election in under a year showed no signs of voter apathy, as citizens cast ballots in an attempt to end the political stalemate.
The voter turnout was 71%, up from 69.83% in September and 68.46% in April. There were more than 200,000 voters casting ballots on Monday who had not voted in September.
The turnout was even higher among the 5,630 people quarantined due to exposure to the coronavirus, among whom 4,076 voted in special polling stations despite long lines.
Good. Hope Bibi can build a coalition.
The final vote won’t be known until at Thursday - after the military votes are in. Netanyahu ‘a block might reach the 61 votes.
I sure hope it does.
*APPLAUSE*
Good news.
The soldiers’ vote should give the Likud a 38th seat and also shift one of the Arab List’s seats fo an allied party.
Netanyahu should be able to form a government with 61 seats and also rely on Lieberman’s party for certain votes.
Israel will finally have a stable right-wing government after a year of political deadlock.
Keep Israel Great
Good!
They signed Netanyahu’s political obituary last fall. It turned out today reports of his death had been greatly exaggerated.
bttt
LOVE IT!!!!!
KIG.....KEEP ISRAEL GREAT!!!
Benjamin Netanyahu wins in Israel and Chris Matthews is out at MSNBC, what a glorious night!
Good. Hope he can form a govt.
Pay attention folks this is what multiple party factionalism looks like
Thank Jehova and every Seraphim in attendance.
The turnout was even higher among the 5,630 people quarantined due to exposure to the coronavirus...
I had no idea there were so many in quarantine.
The Walking Dead vote. LOL
Yes, Israel is a travel crossroads. They have a lot in quarnatine, and a good thing they do, rather that they wandering about.Israel is still ahead of the game. We likely have many who have not been detected. Israel has caught most of theirs.
From your keyboard to God's ears.
+1
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