Benjamin
Netanyahu's Likud Party has once again attained a position to form government in
Israel, a stunning victory after a tight race that had put his lengthy rule in
jeopardy.
Netanyahu's
return to power for a fourth term likely spells trouble for Mideast peace
efforts and could further escalate tensions with the United States.
With nearly
all votes counted, Likud appeared to have earned 30 out of parliament's 120
seats and seems in a position to form a coalition government with its
nationalist, religious and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies.
It is feared
that he may try to sabotage nuclear negotiations that may put Israel at odds
with the international community. He has already earned a bad name over unabated
construction settlements, opposition to Palestinian statehood, and continue
clashing with the White House over hardline policies.
According to
an AP report, the election was widely seen as a referendum on Netanyahu, who
has governed the country for the past six years. Recent opinion polls indicated
he was in trouble, giving chief rival Isaac Herzog of the opposition Zionist
Union a slight lead.
Exit polls
Tuesday showed the two sides deadlocked but once the actual results came
pouring in early Wednesday, Likud soared forward. Zionist Union wound up with
24 seats. Given the final results, it is all but assured that Israel's largely
ceremonial President Reuven Rivlin will ask Netanyahu to forming the new
government.
Netanyahu was
prompt in saying, "Against all odds, we achieved a great victory for the
Likud," even before final results were known”. "I am proud of the
people of Israel, who in the moment of truth knew how to distinguish between
what is important and what is peripheral, and to insist on what is
important."
Netanyahu
focused his campaign primarily on security issues, while his opponents instead
pledged to address the country's high cost of living and accused the leader of
being out of touch with everyday people..
A union of
four largely Arab-backed factions became Israel's third largest party — with 14
seats — and gave Israel's Arab minority significant leverage in parliament for
the first time. Ten parties in all made it into parliament.
Herzog, who
appeared poised only days ago to stage a coup, conceded defeat and signaled
that he would not join forces with Netanyahu and would rather head to the
opposition.
