Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and challenger Benny Gantz both claimed victory in Israel’s general election Tuesday, after exit polls showed the Likud and Blue and White parties neck and neck.
Gantz claimed election victory after two out of three TV exit polls gave his centrist party the biggest showing in parliamentary seats.
"We won! The Israeli public has had its say!" Gantz's Blue and White party said in a statement.
Netanyahu shortly after claimed a “clear victory” for the right-wing bloc led by Likud, a statement from his party said.
Three separate exit polls from Israel's main TV channels put Likud with between 33 and 36 seats in the 120-seat parliament, while Blue and White had either 36 or 37.
Two exit polls predicted a parliamentary majority for a Netanyahu-led bloc of rightist parties. The third exit poll predicted this bloc would be tied with center-left parties that Gantz would have to enlist to form a coalition government.
Exit polls have however proven to be unreliable in previous Israeli elections.
Agencies
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