Jerusalem: Despite a heated competition from the arch rival Benny Gantz, Benjamin Netanyahu is likely to emerge victorious in the Israeli national elections for the record fifth term in office.
With a speculation of forming coalition government, as with 97 percent of the votes counted, neither of the candidates' parties had captured a ruling majority, but Netanyahu was clearly in a strong position to form a coalition government with other right-wing factions that have backed him.
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The right-wing leader's Likud party and Gantz's new centrist Blue and White party both won 35 seats, according to the Knesset website and the Israeli TV channels. That would mean a five-seat gain for Likud.
The final results are expected to come on Friday. Although in a late night speech 69 years old Netanyahu said, “It is a night of colossal victory.” However, taking precautions before the full fledged results come he said, “Long night and possibly day” lay ahead.
Benjamin will become the longest serving Prime Minister of Israel if the results will be in favor of him.
The clearer picture emerged by Wednesday morning when the results started streaming in and inclined to Benjamin Netanyahu.