Kate Lyons and Adam Gabbat – The Guardian April 10, 2019
Our correspondent Oliver Holmes offers some context about why some news outlets are claiming victory for Benjamin Netanyahu when the vote between him and Gantz is so close. He writes:
It’s a bit confusing but because of Israel’s coalition government system, the key seats have been the ones that have not gone to either Netanyahu or Gantz.
The two main parties may have a similar number of seats in the Knesset but Netanyahu’s right-wing allies appear to have enough for him to make a majority government with them.
The president chooses the candidate he believes will have the best chance of forming a government, who does not necessarily have to have a big lead themselves or even be ahead.
The Times of Israel reports that with 97% of votes counted, Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud and Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party still appear on track to get 35 seats each, but that “Netanyahu has a clear path to forming a right-wing government”.
The newspaper also reports that Arab party Ra’am Ra’am-Balad is at 3.45%, putting it past the 3.25% threshold required to enter the Knesset.
These results would give the right and religious bloc 65 seats, and the center, left and Arab parties 55 seats.
Channel 12 are reporting that with 96% of the votes counted, Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud has won 37 of Knesset seats, against 36 for centrist Blue and White, headed by Netanyahu’s rival, former general Benny Gantz.