Netanyahu looks to form rightwing government after victory

TIL Desk/World/Jerusalem/ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to form a rightwing governing coalition on Thursday after securing victory in a high-stakes Israeli election despite a strong challenge from a centrist alliance.

The results from Tuesday’s vote came despite corruption allegations against the 69-year-old premier and kept him on course to become Israel’s longest-serving prime minister later this year.

His close ally President Donald Trump, who has swung US policy sharply in Israel’s favour and openly backed Netanyahu, said the incumbent’s victory for a fifth mandate gives the White House’s long-awaited peace plan a “better chance”.

Netanyahu’s rightwing Likud party looked set to finish with a similar number of seats in parliament to his main rival, ex-military chief Benny Gantz’s centrist Blue and White alliance.

But the results showed that Likud together with other rightwing parties allied to the prime minister would hold around 65 seats in the 120-seat parliament. Gantz conceded defeat on Wednesday night, and final official results were expected to be announced by Friday.