[SIZE=7]Israel election: Exit polls show Netanyahu trails rival Gantz[/SIZE]
Preliminary results are due on Wednesday and final tally next week, with results expected to be similar to April vote.
by Arwa Ibrahim
20 minutes ago
https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/imagecache/mbdxxlarge/mritems/Images/2019/9/17/16cf064f97c249d3b58166ecc94b8561_18.jpg
Coalition governments are the norm in Israel as no single party has won a majority of seats in the Knesset [Anadolu] Tel Aviv, Israel - Polls have closed in Israel and ballots are being counted after millions took part in the election widely seen as a referendum on the fate of incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Netanyahu, who became Israel 's longest-serving prime minister in July, is seeking a record fifth term in office. He is competing with his toughest rival in years, former army chief Benny Gantz, leader of the centrist Blue and White party.
According to the first round of exit polls, Israel faces the same situation as it did in April, with Netanyahu and his right-wing bloc failing to get a 61 seat majority.
Two exit polls put Gantz’s party in a narrow lead. A Channel 12 exit poll said it would win 34 seats, putting Netanyahu’s Likud one seat behind. The poll put Arab Joint List at 11 seats with eight for Liberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu
What will result is a Secular unity Government between Likud, Yamina, Benitu Israel and Red and White.
There is no other combination that can happen.
Likud wants a coalition of right wing parties but right wingers include both hard-line Secular parties like Benitu Israel and the haredi parties and it is Benitu Israel that is pushing for Haredi Jews, long exempted from military conscription to be enlisted like all other Jews. A position most Israelis support btw.But the Shas and United Torah are vehemently against
Likud is a Secular right wing party but under Netanyahu they have had a alliance with the religious right, meaning that they are simply opportunists.
The alternative is a third election.
Well, I believe choosing a centrist leader is quite shortsighted because Netanyahu has proven to be the only one who’s willing expand their West Bank (Judea/Samaria) settlements. The other guys are brainwashed, they think being passive will make their enemies love them in return. Netanyahu’s accomplishments are known: he rallied US support in recognizing Israel sovereignty in East Jerusalem and Golan. The US embassy was finally moved to Jerusalem, it’s a big deal.
Thankless people.
And just like in America where the opposition started premature celebrations and chest thumping, the humble pies being served must taste so good. Libturds never learn
His efforts have also been counter productive particularly internationally. He is isolating Israel and inviting boycotts to it. He has destroyed Israel’s soft power based