News Sport
Graphic shows seats in the Knesset with 90% of the vote counted.
Responsive: View Mobile Version
GN39521EN
EN NL AR DE ES PT

POLITICS

Israeli election heads for deadlock

By Jordi Bou

September 18, 2019 - Benny Gantz’s Blue and White coalition is edging out Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party, but neither can secure a ruling
majority, official results indicate.

With 90% of vote officially counted, Blue and White edging out Likud 32-31seats. Avigdor Lieberman, whose Yisrael Beiteinu party is projected to win nine seats, is expected to be the election’s kingmaker.

The results could put Netanyahu in an even weaker position than after April’s election when coalition talks collapsed. Gantz could emerge as the leader of the largest party, but he could have an even more complicated job to form a government. Lieberman -- an ally-turned-rival of the prime minister -- has campaigned for a three-party unity government with Yisrael Beiteinu, Blue and White and Likud.

It could take weeks of coalition horse-trading before the next government, and prime minister emerge.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 18/09/2019; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Newscom, AP
Advertisement