Netanyahu defies numbers to claim victory

Benjamin Netanyahu has again fallen short of a majority with his right-wing allies, final Israeli election results have confirmed.

‘The right won the election in a knockout’: Benjamin Netanyahu. Picture: AP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has again fallen short of a parliamentary majority with his right-wing allies, final election results have confirmed, extending the country’s year-old political deadlock and weakening the longtime leader as he prepares to go on trial for corruption.

Mr Netanyahu had been looking for a decisive victory in Monday’s vote, and initial exit polls had indicated his Likud party and smaller religious and nationalist allies had captured 60 seats, just one short of a majority. Mr Netanyahu declared a “huge victory”.

But a final count by the election commission determined that while Likud emerged as the largest party, with 36 seats — ahead of 33 seats for the rival Blue and White Party — with it allies Mr Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc captured just 58 seats.

In a video statement, Mr Netanyahu continued to claim victory on Thursday night. “The Likud and the right won the election in a knockout,” he said.

Mr Netanyahu — who is due to go on trial on graft changes on March 17 — accused his opponents of trying to “steal the decision from the masses of Israeli citizens who gave the Likud under my leadership a crushing victory”.

While Mr Netanyahu’s opponents control a majority of seats, they are deeply divided, with a ­nationalist party and the Arab Joint List among them. The Joint List captured 15 seats, making it the third-largest party in parliament — its best ever performance.

Those divisions could make it difficult for Blue and White leader Benny Gantz to establish a ­coalition. If neither Likud nor Blue and White can form government, Israel would head to an unprecedented fourth straight election in less than a year. Elections in April and September also ended in deadlock.

Kingmaker Avigdor Lieberman, who refused to endorse ­either candidate in September, is expected to come out in favour of Mr Gantz. But Mr Lieberman has hostile relations with the Joint List, leaving it doubtful that Mr Gantz can form a government with Mr Netanyahu’s opponents.

The election commission said its results were completed, but several polling stations were being investigated for irregularities and results would not be official until they are delivered to President Reuven Rivlin on Tuesday. Mr Rivlin will the begin consultations with the eight parties elected to parliament before choosing a candidate to try to form a coalition.

AP