Netanyahu ahead in Israeli election, but still lacking governing majority

JERUSALEM (HRNW) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led on Tuesday in a cliffhanger election in Israel, but was still short of a governing majority in a third national ballot in less than a year, exit polls showed.

On the basis of initial projections by Israel’s three main television channels, Netanyahu, head of the right-wing Likud party, claimed victory in Monday’s vote over his main challenger, former armed forces chief Benny Gantz of the centrist Blue and White.

Updated exit polls, however, showed Netanyahu two seats short of a majority in Israel’s parliament, a gap signaling possible deadlock, with actual results trickling in throughout Tuesday.

A win for Netanyahu, 70, after inconclusive ballots in April and September, would be testimony to the political durability of Israel’s longest-serving leader, who fought the latest campaign under the shadow of a looming corruption trial.