Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on January 22, 2016

Final results: Netanyahu's Likud scores decisive victory in Israeli election, set to win 30 Knesset seats, Zionist Union gets 24 Netanyahu calls for 'strong' government to safeguard security, welfare Meretz leader Zehava Galon resigns in wake of election results.

With nearly all votes counted, Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party is set to emerge as the election's big winner with 30 seats. The Zionist Union trails behind with 24 seats. The Joint List of Arab parties is the third-largest party at this point, followed by Yesh Atid, Kulanu, Habayit Hayehudi, Shas, Yisrael Beiteinu, United Torah Judaism, Meretz and Yahad.

President Reuven Rivlin said he would work for a national unity government.

Ballots were cast at 10,372 polling stations throughout Israel. There are 5,881,696 Israelis (citizens over the age of 18) who were eligible to vote today for the 20th Knesset.

Latest opinion and analyses:Netanyahu resorts to race-baiting in attempt to win elections |Netanyahu, Herzog fight Election Day battle of the gap |A last-minute bid to block Netanyahus rescue me campaign(Yossi Verter)|A black hole at core of Israeli electoral politics (Aluf Benn).

Live updates:

11:15 A.M.Labor MK Shelly Yacimovich says Isaac Herzog told her that the Zionist Union won't join a Likud-led government. "This morning I spoke with Herzog and he explicitly told me that we are going to the opposition," she told Army Radio.

Netanyahu at the Western Wall Photo by Emil Salman

Yacimovich, a former Labor leader, says, following the election results, that teaming up with Tzipi Livni was a right call, but argued that too many concessions were made. (Jonathan Lis)

10:45 A.M. Meretz No. 2 Ilan Gilon says he does not accept Galon's resignation and is not prepared to take on chairmanship of the party in her stead. (Haaretz)

9:56 A.M. Meretz chief Zehava Galon officially announces that she will resign from chairmanship in the wake of the election results.

9:30 A.M.Senior Palestinian officials tell Haaretz that the fact Israelis reelected Netanyahu after he declared that there will be no Palestinian state means that Israel is not a partner for peace. The international community needs to realize that and stop defending Netanyahu and his policy, they added. (Jack Khoury) Read full story

8:54 A.M.Zionist Union MK Stav Shafir says in a Facebook post: "We will serve the people from the opposition." (Haaretz)

8:44 A.M.Isaac Herzog says he called Netanyahu and congratulated him for the election results. "Nothing has changed, we will keep fighting for a just society." Herzog refused to explicitly say that the Zionist Union won't join a Netanyahu-led government. (Haaretz)

8:32 A.M. Moshe Kahlon: "Netanyahu spoke with me and said his intentions are serious. I am waiting for the results. There were never any personal issues, only differences in ideology that I hope to resolve now with a government focused on social aspects."

7:45 A.M. Zionist Union's Herzog and Livni: "This is not an easy morning for us and for those who believe in our way. We will lead the fight, together with our partners in Knesset, for the values believe in. We will fight on behalf of the citizens of Israel for social justice, diplomatic horizon, equality and democracy in hope that we can maintain a just, safe Jewish and democratic state. We thank from the bottom of our heart to all those who believe in us and in our way."

6:50 A.M. Meretz leader Zehava Galon says if final results give Meretz four seats, she will resign from Knesset in order to allow TamarZandberg to remain MK (Ilan Lior).

6:06 A.M. With 99 percent of the ballots counted, Likud is increasing its lead with 30 Knesset seats, compared to the Zionist Union's 24.

The Joint List, the third-largest party, gets 14 seats, followed by Yesh Atid with 11, Kulanu with 10, Habayit Hayehudi with eight, Shas with seven, United Torah Judaism with six, Yisrael Beiteinu with six, and Meretz with four. It appears at this point that Yahad has not crossed the electoral threshold. (Haaretz)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waves to supporters at party headquarters in Tel Aviv, March 18, 2015. Photo: Reuters

4:30 A.M. Likud increases its lead over the Zionist Union as the vote count nears completion. (Haaretz)

3:23 A.M. With 60 percent of votes counted, Likud leads with 23.73 percent over Zionist Union's 19.07 percent. Yesh Atid stands at 8.92 percent, the Joint List at 9.63 percent, Kulanu at 7.53 percent, Habayit Hayehudi at 6.4 percent, Shas at 5.88 percent, Yisrael Beiteinu at 5.26 percent, United Torah Judaism at 5.15 percent, Meretz at 3.95 percent and Yahad at 3.04 percent.

2:45 A.M.Some 71.3 percent of Israeli soldiers voted on Tuesday, a 2.3 percent bump compared to the 2013 election. The rate does not include soldiers voting in civilian polling stations. (Gili Cohen)

2:30 A.M. The chief Palestinian negotiator expects Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to form the next Israeli government and has declared that the Palestinians in turn will push forward with diplomatic efforts at the International Criminal Court.

It is clear that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will form the next government, and for that, we say clearly that we will go to the Hague Tribunal, we will accelerate, continue and intensify diplomatic efforts, top Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat told Agence France-Presse. (JTA)

1:10 A.M. Netanyahu: "Dear friends, against all odds we have achieved a great victory for Likud, for the national camp which is headed by Likud, for our people. I am proud of the Israeli people, who recognized what's important and stood up for real security, economy and social welfare, which we are committed to.

"This is what's important to everyone, Jews and non-Jews alike," he said."All of you are important to me.

"Now we must form a strong and stable government that will care for the security and welfare of all of Israel's citizens," he said.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu kisses his wife, Sara, as he addresses supporters.Photo: Tomer Appelbaum

12:25 A.M. Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid: "We are the biggest centrist party, and will remain a political force for many years to come."

12:16 A.M. Zionist Union Chairman Isaac Herzog on the exit polls: "These results will bring Labor back into power." He calls on the "social parties" to unite under him to form "a real reconciliation government."

"This is a big victory for the Labor Party, which hasn't done this well since Yitzhak Rabin won in 1992."

Referring to his efforts to from a governing coalition, Herzog says "no decision will be made tonight. We have formed a negotiating team." (Haaretz)

Zionist Union party co-leaders Isaac Herzog and Tzipi Livni.Photo by AP

12:20 A.M. Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman says his party's five Knesset seats are a triumph over attempts to "take out" his "entire party."

Lieberman says the close election results are further proof that Israel needs a different system of government.

Shas Chairman Arye Dery says this election has been the "toughest we have ever experienced."

"This was a great battle for legacy, a struggle for a path, a struggle of leadership, a very tough struggle," he said. "But, thank God, the way of the truth won, the Torah's way won."

He said that he made efforts to unite with Eli Yishai, but the latter resisted.

Zionist Union MK Shelly Yacimovich suggests that Shas and Moshe Kahlon's Kulanu may join a government led by Isaac Herzog.

"You treat Kahlon like he's in Netanyahu's pocket, and Shas like it's clearly with Netanyahu," she said in an interview with Channel 2. "People say a lot of things before the election. It's possible that they will understand that they could fulfil their desires under Herzog as prime minister."

12:15 P.M.Kulanu Chairman Moshe Kahlon says he will work with any party working on social, economic lines.

"This election has caused rifts and polarization in our nation. This is the time to mend, to unite," he says. (Haaretz)

12:10 A.M. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman talk. (Jonathan Lis)

11:59 P.M. Channel 1's corrected exit polls indicate Eli Yishai's Yahad party has crossed the electoral threshold with four Knesset seats.

The corrected polls show that Likud has gotten 27 seats, the Zionist Union 26, the Joint List 12, Yesh Atid 11, and Kulanu nine. (Haaretz)

11:54 P.M.Hamas: Elections should convince Abbas to abandon talks with Israel

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas should abandon negotiations with Israel following the elections in the Jewish State, Hamas official Ismail Radwan says in the Gaza Strip.

"The results should be enough to convince the Palestinian Authority and Fatah Party to forget about the choice of keeping the absurd negotiations," he says in a statement. (DPA)

11:34 P.M. Kulanu Chairman Moshe Kahlon says on Twitter that his party's election result is a "great success."

11:27 P.M. Zionist Union Chairman Isaac Herzog is holding talks with potential coalition partners as part of an effort to form a broad government that excludes Netanyahu and Bennett.

The Zionist Union says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's and Habayit Hayehudi Chairman Naftali Bennett's celebration is premature, claiming the rightist bloc has "crashed."

11:21 P.M.The 2015 election had 71.8% voter turnout, up from 67.8% in the 2013 election. The 2009 election had 65.2% voter turnout, compared to 63.2% in the 2006 election (Ofra Edelman).

11:15 P.M. AvigdorLieberman on whether he will join a coalition headed by Netanyahu: "Why not? ... we should join the friends who worked hard and gave everything they could. We can't talk of defeat, it was a difficult journey."

11:00 P.M. Joint List Chairman Ayman Odeh: "The list is a success story. More than 65% of the Arab public voted, and that was a positive referendum for the list and its future."

The party expected to get 14-15 Knesset seats, but has gotten 13, according to the preliminary results.

MK Ahmad Tibi of the Joint List: "The general result is disappointing, but the Joint List has won the support of the public, Marzel has disappeared and the public said Nyet to Lieberman."

MK Ya'akov Litzman, head of United Torah Judaism, told Channel 2 that he is awaiting tomorrow morning's decision from the Council of Torah Sages on whether his party's six seats will be part of the next government. (Haaretz)

10:57 P.M. Habayit Hayehudi leader Naftali Bennett, whose party won a disappointing eight Knesset seats according to the exit polls, said his party is a "long distance runner."

"We are long distance runners. We're not afraid and we're not lowering our heads," Bennett said, adding he is proud of his public, the religious Zionists. (Haaretz)

10:53 P.M. Likud officials estimate: Netanyahu will work for coalition with Herzog

Likud officials estimated Netanyahu will work toward forming a national unity government with Zionist Union's Isaac Herzog.

"Netanyahu doesn't want a unity government, but sometimes you find yourself with no choice. In this case, the most likely scenario is that the prime minister will agree to pay Zionist Union a heavy price, among other things, leaving Bennett or Lieberman in the opposition, to make it easier for Herzog to make the move agreeable for his party. (Jonathan Lis)

10:48 P.M. Kulanu leader Moshe Kahlon told Likud's Benjamin Netanyahu and Zionist Union's Isaac Herzog that he will decide on his next move only after the full results are tallied.

Kahlon's party won 10 Knesset seats according to the exit polls.

10:40 P.M. Zionist Union: Everything's possible until the real results are in

Zionist Union, which gained 27 Knesset seats according to the exit polls, said in response: "Likud keeps misleading. The rightist bloc has shrunk. Everything is possible until the real results are in, when we can know which parties passed the electoral threshold and which government we can form. All the spins and statements are premature. A negotiating team has been formed in an effort to form a government led by Herzog."

Meretz, which gained five Knesset seats according to the exit polls, called on Zionist Union's Isaac Herzog not to form a unity government with Benjamin Netanyahu. (Gili Cohen)

10:35 P.M. Netanyahu announces 'great victory, against all odds'

Likud leader and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded to the exit polls, which gave his party 27 Knesset seats, a tie with Zionist Union, announcing a "great victory for Likud."

"Against all odds, a great victory for Likud, a great victory for the nationalist camp headed by Likud, a great victory for the nation of Israel," Netanyahu said in a Facebook post. (Haaretz)

10:25 P.M. Netanyahu and Bennett agree to start negotiations for right-wing government

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Habayit Hayehudi's Naftali Bennett several minutes after the exit polls were released. The two agreed to initiate accelerated negotiations to establish a right-wing government. (Haaretz)

10:08 P.M. President Rivlin says would work for national unity gov't

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin made clear to political officials on Tuesday evening that he would work for a national unity government.

"I am convinced that only a unity government can prevent the rapid disintegration of Israel's democracy and new elections in the near future," Rivlin said. (Yossi Verter)

10:00 P.M. Exit polls: Zionist Union and Likud neck and neck at 27 seats, slight lead for Likud

Channel 10 and Channel 1 both gave Likud and Zionist Union 27 Knesset seats, while Channel 2's exit poll gave 28 seats to Likud, and 27 to Zionist Union.

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein said final tally may not be published until Friday. For full results of exit polls click here

9:28 P.M. Zionist Union "very carefully optimistic," officials say

Officials in the Zionist Union voiced "very careful optimism" with their projections of the election results. A party official said the voter turnout in their bases have been relatively good.

The far right Yahad party, however, issued an urgent call to its supporters, calling on them to vote as their polls show they are only 1,500 short of crossing the electoral threshold. (Ido Efrati)

Zionist Union headquarters in Tel Aviv (Moti Milrod)

9:20 P.M. Likud MK praises high voter turnout in Arab sector

After Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged his supporters to go and vote, warning that his rule is in danger because "the Arab are voting in droves," Likud MK Gila Gamliel expressed her happiness with reports of high voter turnout among Arab citizens.

"I praise the high voter turnout in the non-Jewish sector. I'm glad. It gives them a sense of belonging and a will to change. Maybe it won't be expressed as support for Likud, but it will make different parties understand they should relate more to this public and put the treatment of Israeli Arabs in the foreground," Gamliel said. (Jonathan Lis)

8:59 P.M. Over 80% of Israeli prisoners cast their ballots (Yaniv Kubovich)

8:33 P.M. Voter turnout at 8 P.M. stands at 65.7%, up from 63.9% in 2013 (Haaretz)

Attorney Elad Naveh, who runs the control room of the Central Elections Committee, explained that the voting data is based on 9,000 polling stations across Israel, not a sample of 400, like in previous elections, making the data more accurate. (Ofra Edelman)

8:07 P.M. "Hamas" called on Israeli Arabs to vote, endorsing the Joint List (JTA)

A Twitter account purporting to be the official account of the Hamas' armed wing called on Israeli Arabs to vote for the Joint List.

7:51 P.M. Palestinians march in West Bank in effort to send message to Israel on Election Day

Earlier, Palestinians, joined by Israelis and foreigners, marched near the West Bank town of Abu Dis, in effort to send a message against the settlements on Election Day, AFP reported.

The demonstrators clashed with Israeli security forces, and some demonstrators were detained, AFP reported. (Haaretz)

7:41 P.M. IDF soldiers' voter turnout 59% at 17:00, 4% increase on 2013 (Haaretz)

7:30 P.M. Herzog: Netanyahu is a 'lying, divisive, inciting prime minister'

Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "panicking," adding that his "lies" earlier on Tuesday prove that he is a "hysterical, divisive, inciting prime minister."

In a Facebook post, Herzog urged voters to "join the upheaval," so that Israel "won't wake up tomorrow morning with the same lying, divisive, inciting prime minister." (Haaretz)

Isaac Herzog and Tzipi Livni, at a polling station in Ramat Gan (Moti Milrod)

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