Israeli voters deliver deadlock

JERUSALEM – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to win a ruling majority in an election that produced a virtual tie between his right-wing bloc and a centre-left grouping that would be led by former military chief Benny Gantz.

The outcome, according to almost complete results published on Wednesday, dealt a new blow to Israel’s longest-serving leader, who was already weakened by the inability to put together an administration after an inconclusive election in April.

But with coalition building again key to forming a government, it could be days or even weeks before it becomes clear whether the wily politician hailed by supporters as “King Bibi” has been dethroned after a decade in power.

The campaigns run by Mr Netanyahu and Mr Gantz pointed to only narrow differences on many important issues, and an end to the Mr Netanyahu era would be unlikely to bring about significant changes in policy on relations with the United States, the regional struggle against Iran or the Palestinian conflict.

With Israeli media reporting more than 90 per cent of votes counted in Tuesday’s election, the bloc led by Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party was more or less even with a likely grouping headed by Mr Gantz’s centrist Blue and White party.

A Likud-led bloc looked poised to control 55 of Parliament’s 120 seats, with 56 going to a centreleft alliance –– in both cases falling short of a majority government of 61 lawmakers.

The ballot’s wildcard, former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman, emerged as a likely kingmaker as head of the secular-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party, projected to capture nine seats.

Mr Lieberman has been pushing for a unity government comprised of the biggest parties. He declined to back Mr Netanyahu’s bid to form a narrow right-wing and religious coalition after the April election, bringing about Tuesday’s unprecedented repeat vote. No Speech at UN

With Israeli politics in flux, Mr Netanyahu cancelled his annual speech at the UN General Assembly next week, a spokesman said, a visit that might have provided an opportunity for a meeting with US President Donald Trump. Mr Netanyahu highlighted his close ties with Mr Trump in his election campaign.

Mr Trump told reporters in Los Angeles on Wednesday that he had not yet spoken with Mr Netanyahu about the election, adding “we’ll see what happens”. The Trump administration plans soon to release an Israeli-Palestinian peace plan that may prove a dead letter: The Palestinians have rejected it in advance as biased.

Once the last votes are tallied, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin will consult with leaders of parties that won parliamentary representation about whom to tap to try to form a government. The nominee would then have up to 42 days to do so.

Addressing Likud legislators on Wednesday, Mr Netanyahu, 69, said he had met the leaders of right-wing factions, his traditional allies, and they had pledged to work in unison with him to form the next government under his stewardship. A Likud spokesman said the right-wing bloc would approach “all Zionist parties” in the next few days to try to negotiate an alliance, and that Mr Netanyahu did not want another election.

Mr Gantz, a political newcomer, has not ruled out a unity administration with Likud.