ISRAEL: Netanyahu’s Chief Rival Declares Victory

Haaretz reports:

With 98 percent of the vote counted in Israel’s election, Kahol Lavan grew by one seat to 33, widening its edge over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party.

Kingmaker Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu party lost a seat, leaving it with eight in the incoming Knesset.

The results give the center-left a slight advantage of 57 seats, compared to 55 seats for the right-wing bloc. Likud has 31 seats, two less than Kahol Lavan.

Gantz also declared victory in the April election but this time it seems more likely that it will stick.

Israel’s Benny Gantz declares win after near-final election results show deadlock https://t.co/OFgVMRsL2b

— Eric Lipton (@EricLiptonNYT) September 19, 2019

“Netanyahu failed” || After overtaking Netanyahu, Gantz declares: More than a million citizens said no incitement, no to corruption
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— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) September 17, 2019

Benny #Gantz said he would form a “broad, liberal, unity government”. #IsraelElections https://t.co/ch4T587qWX

— THE WEEK (@TheWeekLive) September 19, 2019

Benny Gantz appears cool to Netanyahu’s pitch for unity government in Israel https://t.co/Zil7Mo6FD7 pic.twitter.com/DB9C01uCQ3

— CBC World News (@CBCWorldNews) September 19, 2019

Benny Gantz declared victory in Israel's election and vowed to lead a unity government. He rejected Benjamin Netanyahu's calls for talks. https://t.co/JXEbjxV3gP

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) September 19, 2019