Two main parties deadlocked

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main challenger Benny Gantz were deadlocked yesterday after an Israeli general election, reports said, raising the possibility of a unity government or even the end of the premier’s long rule.

According to various Israeli media and exit polls, Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud and Gantz’s Blue and White had 32 seats each of parliament’s 120 with more than 90 percent of the vote counted.

The reports were citing sources with the elections committee, as that level of results had not been officially posted yet and were not expected before yesterday afternoon.

The results gave no obvious path for either to form a majority coalition, raising the possibility of lengthy negotiations towards a unity government.

If the results hold, it will be a major setback for Netanyahu, who hoped to form a right-wing coalition similar to his current one as he faces the possibility of corruption charges in the weeks ahead.

With a hoarse voice and appearing haggard after days of intense campaigning, Netanyahu spoke before supporters in the early hours of yesterday and said he was prepared for negotiations to form a “strong Zionist government.”

He seemed to hint at openness to forming a national unity government, but did not specifically say so.

In his speech to supporters in Tel Aviv, Gantz called for a “broad unity government” but cautioned that he was waiting for final results.

“We will act to form a broad unity government that will express the will of the people,” the former armed forces chief said.

“We will begin negotiations and I will speak with everyone.”

Yesterday morning when journalists approached him as he was on his way for a run, Gantz said “we’ll wait for the final results ... and wish Israel a good unity government.”

Netanyahu had not spoken in public since his early morning speech.

Ex-defence minister Avigdor Lieberman could prove to be kingmaker, with the reported results showing his nationalist Yisrael Beitenu with nine seats.

The mainly Arab Joint List alliance was set to become the third-largest bloc in parliament with 12 seats, the reports said.