As per figures shared by the CEC, the centre-left bloc now has 56 seats compared to Netanyahu-led bloc, comprised of right-wing and ultra-Orthodox parties, which is at 55 seats in the 120-member Parliament
This combination photo shows Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and Israel Resilience party leader Benny Gantz. Pic/AFP
The ultra-Orthodox Shas got nine seats. United Torah Judaism has 8, Yamina has 7, Labour-Gesher is at 6 and the Democratic Camp has 5. According to reports Netanyahu has rejected the idea of a coalition that would include the Joint List as a partner, saying there cannot be a government that relies on ¿parties that praise and glorify bloodthirsty terrorists who kill our soldiers, our citizens, our children.¿ Gantz, 60, on Wednesday told supporters that his party's campaign had "completed the mission." "We proved that the idea called Blue and White, an initiative that we started a few months ago, is a success, big-time, and it's here to stay,¿ Gantz was quoted as saying by the Times of Israel. Netanyahu called the snap election after failing to form a governing coalition with a viable majority after April's vote.
His remarkable victory in the April 9 polls securing him a record fifth term proved temporary in the face of a logjam between potential coalition partners over a military conscription bill governing exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students. Lieberman had made it a condition of allying with ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties that they adopt a law aimed at having ultra-Orthodox Jews serve in the military like their secular counterparts. Ultra-Orthodox Jews studying in religious seminaries are currently exempt from mandatory military service, a practice many Israelis view as unfair. Netanyahu and Lieberman's association in politics goes back some 31 years when the latter assisted the former during his tenure as the deputy foreign minister in an unofficial capacity. Netanyahu, who has been premier for a total of more than 13 years, faces charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in connection with three cases.
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