Netanyahu set for comeback, says on brink of “massive” election win By Reuters

By Maayan Lubell

JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Israel’s former premier Benjamin Netanyahu appeared set to return to energy on Wednesday, saying his right-wing camp was on the cusp of an important election win, after exit polls predicted his bloc gaining a slim parliamentary majority.

“We’ve received an enormous vote of confidence from the folks of Israel,” a smiling Netanyahu informed cheering supporters at his Likud social gathering election headquarters. “We’re on the point of a really massive victory.”

His voice hoarse from weeks of campaigning throughout the nation, Netanyahu vowed to type a “steady, nationwide authorities,” as the group interrupted him singing “Bibi, king of Israel.”

Lifted by a powerful exhibiting from his far-right and non secular allies, Netanyahu, who’s on trial for corruption he denies, was on target for a comeback, in response to Israeli tv exit polls late on Tuesday, which predicted his bloc of 4 events taking 62 of the Knesset’s 120 seats.

Lower than 18 months out of workplace, Netanyahu mentioned he would watch for the precise vote depend, with remaining outcomes anticipated within the coming days.

The file 12-year consecutive reign of Israel’s longest serving prime minister led to June 2021 when centrist Yair Lapid managed to sew collectively an unlikely coalition authorities of liberals, rightists and Arab events.

However the fragile alliance unravelled a yr into its rule.

As precise outcomes started trickling in, Lapid stopped quick at conceding the election and mentioned he would wait till the ultimate depend. Exit polls late on Tuesday predicted his camp would take 53-54 Knesset seats, far behind Netanyahu.

“The folks desire a completely different method. They need safety,” Netanyahu mentioned, “they need energy, not weak point … they need diplomatic knowledge, however with firmness.”

Israel’s fifth election in lower than 4 years was dominated by the outsized character of Netanyahu, whose authorized battles have fed the stalemate blocking Israel’s political system since 2019 and deepened the break up between his supporters and opponents.

The marketing campaign was shaken up by firebrand West Financial institution settler Itamar Ben-Gvir and his ultra-nationalist Non secular Zionism record, now poised to be the third-largest social gathering in parliament after surging in from the political margins.

Netanyahu has been relying on assist from Ben-Gvir and fellow far-right chief Bezalel Smotrich.

However the prospect of a authorities together with Ben-Gvir, a former member of Kach, a gaggle on Israeli and U.S. terrorist watchlists, and who was as soon as convicted for racist incitement, dangers alarming allies together with Washington.

In an obvious try to allay fears overseas, Netanyahu, who in 2020 cast formal diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, mentioned a authorities below his management would act responsibly, keep away from “pointless adventures” and “develop the circle of peace.”

Nonetheless, his potential comeback bolstered Palestinian scepticism {that a} political resolution to the battle was possible after a marketing campaign which unrolled throughout growing violence within the occupied West Financial institution, with near-daily raids and clashes.