Israeli leader faces challenge after vote
JERUSALEM — In a stunning setback, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-line bloc fared worse than expected in a parliamentary election Tuesday, exit polls showed, possibly forcing the incumbent Israeli leader to invite surprisingly strong moderate rivals into his government and soften his line toward the Palestinians.
TV exit polls showed the hard-liners with about 61 seats in the 120-seat parliament, a bare majority, and the counts could change as actual votes are tallied.
The unofficial TV results had Netanyahu winning only 31 seats, though he combined his Likud Party with the far-right Yisrael Beitenu for the voting. Running separately four years ago, the two won 42 seats. He expected to increase that total by running together, but the combined list’s poll results dipped steadily throughout the three-month campaign.
Netanyahu was also ex- pected to receive stronger backing because his fragmented opposition did not post an agreed candidate against him.
If they hold up through the actual vote counting, the unexpected results could be seen as a setback for Netanyahu’s tough policies. The coalitionbuilding process could force him to promise concessions to restart longstalled peace talks with the Palestinians.
Addressing cheering supporters early Wednesday, Netanyahu pledged to work for a broad-based government. Also, he said, he would show “responsibility in striving for a genuine peace.”
Netanyahu made a quick phone call to a newcomer on Israel’s political stage, Yair Lapid, whose centrist party debuted with a strong showing of 19 seats, making it the secondlargest party after Netanyahu’s.
Nearly 67 percent of Israel’s 5.5 million eligible voters took part, more than in previous elections — apparently giving boosts to the centrists.
Lapid’s surprise show- ing could make him a key Cabinet minister should he decide to join Netanyahu’s government.
Lapid and other centrist parties have said they would not join Netanyahu’s team unless the prime minister promises to make a serious push for peace with the Palestinians. The moderates also want an end to the generous subsidies and military draft exemptions given to ultraOrthodox Jewish communities.
The conflicting positions of the various parties point up the difficulties facing anyone who tries to set up a coalition government in Israel. If Netanyahu relies only on the religious and hard-line parties, it means constant fights with the opposition over social programs.
Some predicted Netanyahu might even fail to form a government.
“Netanyahu’s victory is a Pyrrhic victory, and it is not clear he will be the next prime minister,” said Israeli political analyst Yaron Ezrahi. “Netanyahu will face difficulty in constructing a viable coalition.”