Israel prime minister, Netanyahu, wins 4th term

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli prime minister, on Wednesday won his fourth term in office as his party, Likud party claimed victory at the just-concluded poll.

According to Jerusalem post, with 95 percent of votes counted, the president’s Likud party has emerged as winner of the keenly-contested poll.

“With nearly 95 percent of precincts reporting before dawn on Wednesday, the Likud has emerged as the clear, undisputed victor in the elections,” the Israeli media said.

“According to the official up-to-the-minute tally, Likud wins 29 seats while Zionist Union comes in second at 24 seats.

“The parties that follow are Joint Arab List (14), Yesh Atid (11), Kulanu (10), Bayit Yehudi (8), Shas (7), United Torah Judaism (7), Yisrael Beytenu (6), and Meretz (4).”

In Israel, votes are not cast for individuals but for political parties, and the party with the majority seats and in position to put together a 61-seat majority with coalition parties would have its leader become prime minister.

The result of the poll on Wednesday amounted to a dramatic and unexpected victory, following Netanyahu’s insistence on not creating a Palestinian state.

The last opinion polls published four days before the vote showed the Zionist Union with a four-seat advantage over Likud.

Netanyahu, who claimed victory long before the counting was concluded, said in his victory speech that the country had to form a stable government to face the challenge ahead.

“We have scored a major victory for the nationalist camp headed by Likud,” he said.

“I’m proud of the Israeli people because at the moment of truth they knew to differentiate between challenge and nonsense and they took up the challenge.

“These are important things for every family, citizen, soldier, and all of Israel’s Jewish and non-Jewish citizens; you are all important, and you are all important to me.

“Now we must form a strong, stable government that will know how to uphold security and socioeconomic well-being. We are faced with major challenges on the security and socioeconomic front.”

Isaac Herzog, Zionist Union leader called Netanyahu on Wednesday morning to congratulate him on Likud’s win.

With Netanyahu clinching his fourth term, he is on track to become Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, a feat currently being held by David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first prime minister.

“Bibi”, as Netanyahu is fondly called, was prime minister of Israel from 1996 to 1999, and 2009 till date.