Benjamin Netanyahu claims victory in Israel's third election in under a year

Benjamin Netanyahu claims victory in Israel's third election in under a year It is unclear whether the embattled leader will be able to secure a majority as he prepares to go on trial accused of corruption.

Image: Confetti fell from the roof after Benjamin Netanyahu claimed victory in Israel's election

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed victory in the country's third general election in under a year, after exit polls suggested a strong showing for his Likud party.

However it is unclear whether the embattled leader will secure a parliamentary majority as he prepares to go on trial for corruption charges later this month.

Israel's three main TV channels initially projected that Likud and like-minded parties would capture 60 of parliament's 120 seats.

Mr Netanyahu claimed victory over his main challenger Benny Gantz, of the centrist Blue and White party, based on the initial projections by the television channels.

He said in a Twitter post early on Tuesday: "We won thanks to our belief in our path and thanks to the people of Israel."


However updated exit polls showed Mr Netanyahu two seat short of a majority in Israel's parliament, a gap signalling possible deadlock, with actual results trickling in throughout Tuesday.

A win for the 70-year-old politician would come after inconclusive general elections in April and September 2019.

Image: Mr Netanyahu stood with his wife Sara as he addressed supporters

Mr Netanyahu's victory would also be testimony to the political durability of Israel's longest-serving leader, who fought the campaign under the shadow of a looming corruption trial.

It would also pave the way for Mr Netanyahu to make good on his pledge to annex Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and the region's Jordan Valley after the election.

The moves were proposed in a peace plan by US President Donald Trump.

Palestinians have rejected the proposal, saying it was killing their dream of establishing a viable state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Israel captured the territory in the 1967 Middle East war.

Right-wing and religious parties pledged to join a Likud-led government during an acrimonious campaign which focused more on character than policy.

Mr Netanyahu campaigned vigorously on his strongman "security-first" platform, familiar to Israeli voters over decades.

Image: Benny Gantz is the leader of the centrist Blue and White party

His loyal base of blue-collar voters has stood firmly behind him throughout, seemingly unfazed by his imminent trial.

A beaming Mr Netanyahu told a cheering crowd in a speech at Likud's election headquarters in Tel Aviv: "What a joyous night.

"This victory is especially sweet, because it is a victory against all odds ... we turned lemons into lemonade."

Mr Gantz, in an address at his party's election headquarters, stopped short of conceding defeat, saying the election could result in another deadlock.

He said: "I will tell you honestly, I understand and share the feeling of disappointment and pain because it is not the result we wanted."

Image: Mr Netanyahu's supporters celebrated the predictions in the exit polls

A Likud spokesman said he expected Mr Netanyahu would manage to gain a governing majority and establish a coalition government by getting politicians from the opposing camp to cross sides.

Jonatan Urich told Channel 12 News: "There will be defectors."

Mr Netanyahu's re-election bid has been complicated since the last election by his indictment on charges of bribery, breach of trust and fraud over allegations he granted state favours worth millions of dollars to Israeli media barons in return for favourable press coverage.

He is also accused of wrongfully receiving gifts.

If official results on Tuesday match the exit polls, Mr Netanyahu could go on trial on 17 March while the country is stuck in political gridlock.

Mr Netanyahu denies any wrongdoing and says he is the victim of a witch hunt by police, prosecutors and a hostile media.

The Israeli prime minister failed in a bid to secure immunity from prosecution during the election campaign.