POLITICS
Israel election deadlocked again
March 24, 2021 - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s prospects for retaining power look uncertain despite leading his right-wing coalition to within a few seats of a majority in Israel’s fourth election in two years.
Deadlock in the 120-seat parliament was a real possibility a day after the election, which had been dominated by Netanyahu’s polarizing leadership.
With about 87.5% of the vote counted by Wednesday morning, Netanyahu's Likud party and its ultra-Orthodox and far-right allies fell short of a 61-seat majority — even if the Yamina party of Netanyahu ally-turned-critic Naftali Bennett were to join a Netanyahu-led government. Bennett has refused to endorse either side.