TEL AVIV: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu led on Tuesday in a tight election in Israel, but was still short of a governing majority in the third national ballot in less than a year, partial results showed. But with nearly three-quarters of the votes counted, Netanyahu appeared three seats short of a majority in Israel’s parliament, a gap signaling there may be deadlock yet again. Together with right-wing and religious parties, Netanyahu could build a 58-seat coalition, short of a majority in the 120-seat parliament. “What a joyous night,” a beaming Netanyahu told a cheering crowd in a speech at Likud’s election headquarters in Tel Aviv. The first trial of a sitting prime minister in Israel is due to begin on March 17.

Source: Pakistan Today March 03, 2020 02:37 UTC