Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has won a historic fifth term in office with support from right-wing parties as the opposition leader Benny Gantz conceded on Wednesday, 10 April, reported Russia Today.
Netanyahu’s Likud party tied with Gantz’s centrist Blue and White Alliance, gaining 35 seats each, but right-wing parties led the way with 66-55 seats.
“We didn’t win in this round. We will make Likud’s life hell in the opposition,”said Yair Lapid, who was number 2 on the Blue and White Alliance ticket, during a televised statement.
- With a victory, Netanyahu captures a fourth consecutive term and fifth overall
- “It’s a night of tremendous victory,” Netanyahu told his own victory rally
- Netanyahu tweeted that Trump had called him to congratulate him on his re-election
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Netanyahu Secures Record 5th Term as PM as Rival Gantz Concedes
The opposition leader Benny Gantz conceded on Wednesday, 10 April paving the way to Benjamin Netanyahu for a historic fifth term in office, reported Russia Today.
Netanyahu Says Trump Congratulated Him Over Call
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, US President Donald Trump called to congratulate him on his election win.
Netanyahu's office issued a statement saying Trump “warmly congratulated” Netanyahu, who thanked the president for his “great support for Israel,” including the White House's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
Reports suggest that Netanyahu holds a slim lead over rival Benny Gantz and is likely to be able to form the next government.
Netanyahu Wins Election, Secures Fifth Term as PM
Current Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be PM for some more time now, with reports suggesting that he has won the national election, securing a record fifth term in office, despite the neck-to-neck competition with his rival, Benny Gantz.
A Reuters report, citing three major Israeli TV channels said that Netanyahu has secured his fifth term as Prime Minister.
With 97 percent of the votes counted, Netanyahu and Gantz's parties both were tied at 35 seats, according to the Knesset website and the Israeli TV channels.
With 97 percent of the votes counted, neither of the candidates’ parties had captured a ruling majority, but Netanyahu, according to the report, is clearly in a strong position to form a coalition government with other right-wing factions that have backed him.
Netanyahu Appears to Edge Toward Re-election
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to be headed toward re-election early Wednesday, 10 April, as exit polls and partial results showed him edging ahead of his main competitor in a tight race that was seen as a referendum on the long-serving leader.
Both Netanyahu and former military chief Benny Gantz, leader of the rival Blue and White party, declared victory in speeches to boisterous gatherings of supporters.
But as the night went on, there were growing signs that Netanyahu’s Likud was pulling ahead.
With a victory, Netanyahu would capture a fourth consecutive term and fifth overall, which this summer will make him Israel’s longest-ever serving leader. Perhaps more crucially, re-election will give him an important boost as he braces for the likelihood of criminal charges in a series of corruption scandals.