Netanyahu set for comeback, says on brink of “large” 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 have now received an enormous vote of confidence from the folks of Israel,” a smiling Netanyahu advised cheering supporters at his Likud social gathering election headquarters. “We’re getting ready to a really large victory.”

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

Lifted by a robust exhibiting from his far-right and non secular allies, Netanyahu, who’s on trial for corruption he denies, was heading in the right direction for a comeback, based on 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 anticipate the precise vote rely, with ultimate outcomes anticipated within the coming days.

The report 12-year consecutive reign of Israel’s longest serving prime minister resulted in 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 12 months into its rule.

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

“The folks desire a totally different means. 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 persona of Netanyahu, whose authorized battles have fed the stalemate blocking Israel’s political system since 2019 and deepened the cut 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 checklist, now poised to be the third-largest social gathering in parliament after surging in from the political margins.

Netanyahu has been relying on help 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 and allay fears overseas, Netanyahu, who in 2020 cast formal diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, mentioned a authorities beneath his management would act responsibly, keep away from “pointless adventures” and “increase the circle of peace.”

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