Israel, Netanyahu to Fifth Term

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Natanjahu's Likud party and retired General Beni Gantz's centrist white and blue party, with almost all votes counted, appear to receive 35 seats each in Parliament.

The result, however, put Netanyahu in a favourable position to create a right-wing coalition government. No party has ever won the majority in the Israeli Parliament, and the country has always been governed by coalitions.

The preliminary polls had predicted a tough race, without a clear winner, which has led both Netanyahu and Beni Gantz to claim victory Tuesday evening. But the success of other rightist parties put Netanyah in a more favourable position to establish a governing coalition and maintain a record five term in office.

This would even cause Netanyahu to leave behind what is considered the country's founding father, David Ben Gurion, who so far was the most enduring prime minister in office. /