Israel election: Netanyahu's Likud party storms to victory

JerusalemPrime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu today appeared headed for a record fourth term after his Likud party emerged as the surprise winner in Israels general elections based on a campaign revolving around no compromise attitude on Palestines statehoodWith nearly all votes counted Netanyahus party is set to emerge as the single largest party with 29 seats in the 120member Parliament the Knesset five seats more than the closest rival the Zionist Union led by Isaac Herzog in a mandate considered a clear victory in the fractured Israeli polityThe party registered victory on a campaign revolving around strong security for the Jewish state focused on denying Iran nuclear capability and a noncompromising attitude in the peace process with the PalestiniansBenjamin NetanyahuIt was a stunning turnabout from the last preelection polls published on Friday which showed the Zionist Union with a four or five seat leadThe Joint List of Arab parties has also made remarkable gains emerging as the thirdlargest party with 14 mandates followed by Yesh Atid Kulanu Habayit Hayehudi Shas Yisrael Beiteinu United Torah Judaism and MeretzBallots were cast at 10372 polling stations throughout Israel yesterday with 657 per cent of the nearly 589 million eligible voters participated in the snap polls called last December after Netanyahus coalition government started to fall apart65yearold Netanyahu who has been in power for nine years over three terms claimed victory for his ruling party and invited potential coalition partners to immediately enter talks for the swift formation of what is expected to be a religiousnationalist governmentThe reality isnt waiting on us Netanyahu said just hours after it became clear that his Likud party had scored a decisive victory over Zionist Union in yesterdays poll Reality isnt taking a break The citizens of Israel expect us to quickly put together a leadership that will work for the sake of the countrys security economy and society as we promised to do and that is what I will doThe Prime Minister said that he had already spoken with the heads of parties that he plans to invite into his coalition including Bayit Yehudi chief Naftali Bennett Kulanus Moshe Kahlon Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman Shas leader Aryeh Deri and United Torah Judaism representatives Yaakov Litzman and Moshe GafniZionist Union leader Herzog who led in opinion polls before the elections conceded defeat but vowed to fight for the issues on which his party contested the elections This is not an easy morning for us and for those who believe in our way We will lead the fight together with our partners in Knesset for the values believe in Herzog saidWe will fight on behalf of the citizens of Israel for social justice diplomatic horizon equality and democracy in hope that we can maintain a just safe Jewish and democratic state We thank from the bottom of our heart to all those who believe in us and in our way Herzog saidNetanyahu could become Israels longestserving leader if he secures a fourth term His victory is likely to further strain relations with the Palestinians Hours after his triumphant victory speech to Likud party supporters Netanyahu said that he would aim to form a strong stable government that would tackle security and socioeconomic challengesA jubilant Likud party crowd cheered as the Premier congratulated them on this feat against all odds we have scored a major victory for the Likud Hail hail Bibi Likud supporters chanted as Netanyahu took to the podium on WednesdayIm proud of the Israeli people because at the moment of truth they knew to differentiate between challenge and nonsense and they took up the challenge Netanyahu respondedHe said that his government will work to improve on the most important things for all of us which is genuine security and socioeconomic welfareSome political analysts in Israel said that Netanyahu succeeded in mustering rightwing support on a campaign agenda that bordered around spreading fear and loathingNo party has ever won an outright majority under Israels proportional representation voting system