Prime minister Yair Lapid says nothing is final until ‘last envelope is counted’ as Likud’s right-wing coalition partners see support surge
Former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has thanked voters for a “huge vote of confidence” as his right-wing religious bloc extended its lead with around half of all votes counted in the country’s fifth election in four years.
His Likud party did not perform as well as expected, but a surge in support for his new right-wing allies, the Religious Zionists, and a poor showing for two pro-Arab rights parties and the left wing Meretz party means he’s currently the most likely candidate to be able to form a government in the aftermath of Tuesday’s election.
