Israeli elections: has Benjamin Netanyahu won?

Likud leader claims victory but he may have fallen short of majority

Netanyahu
(Image credit: (Atef Safadi/POOL/AFP via Getty Images))

Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed victory in Israel's general election, after early results placed him ahead of main rival Benny Gantz.

With almost a quarter of votes counted, the prime minister’s right-wing Likud party had secured 28.73%, with Gantz's centrist Blue and White alliance trailing on 23.26%. The Joint List - a bloc of Arab parties - was in third place, with 12.36%.

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