Salon.com > Likud

Netanyahu loses big in Israeli election win

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:00:00 +0000

JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seems to have squeezed by a surprisingly tight election and looks likely to form Israel's next government. But his hold on power is more tenuous than ever before.

Exit polls indicate that the prime minister has lost up to 25 percent of his seats in the Knesset, Israel's parliament.

Even with the right-wing Netanyahu at its helm, the next government will necessarily have to reflect the influence of Yair Lapid, a centrist, secular, photogenic former journalist and the great surprise of these elections. He now leads Israel's new second-largest party, Yesh Atid (There is a Future).

In defiance of almost every forecast, the next coalition government of Israel will in all likelihood be significantly less beholden to right-wing hardliners than the current one. Based on a fragmented political mandate and reliant on inexperienced new faces, many predict it will be fragile and short-lasting.

Exit polls show win for Netanyahu and allies

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 21:54:00 +0000

JERUSALEM (AP) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party emerged as the largest faction in a hotly contested parliamentary election on Tuesday, positioning the hard-liner to serve a new term as prime minister, according to exit polls. But a lackluster performance by Likud, along with surprising gains by a centrist newcomer, raised the strong possibility that he will be forced to form a broad coalition.

The exit polls aired on Israel's three major TV stations all forecast Likud along with its traditional hardline and religious allies, capturing a shaky majority of just 61 or 62 seats in the 120-member parliament. With official results trickling in throughout the night, it was possible that the two sides could end in deadlock.

In a statement posted on his Facebook page, Netanyahu said he would reach across the aisle and try to form a broad-based coalition.

"According to the exit polls, it is clear that Israel citizens decided that they want me to continue to serve as prime minister of Israel, and that I form the widest possible majority (coalition)," he said. "Already this evening I will begin working toward the widest possible government."

Benjamin Netanyahu: More radical than ever

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:55:00 +0000

If you haven't seen Moshe Feiglin's satisfied smile or Ze'ev Elkin's scowl in news coverage of Israel over the past week, you have evidence that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should be grateful for the U.N. vote on Palestinian statehood: It has diverted attention from his Likud Party's choice of far-right candidates for parliament.