Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main challenger Benny Gantz both claim victory in Israel's general elections as exit polls show the two were neck and neck
"This is a sacred act, the essence of democracy, and we should be thankful for that," he said.
True to form, Netanyahu made a deeply controversial pledge only three days before the election, saying he planned to annex settlements in the occupied West Bank in the event of victory. He has highlighted Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and of Israel's claim to sovereignty over the Golan Heights, while also saying the US leader is aware of his annexation plans.
At the same time, he has used Trump-like tactics, calling the corruption investigations a "witch hunt" and denouncing journalists covering them. If polling trends hold, Netanyahu would be best placed to build a coalition thanks to smaller right-wing parties close to him. He has been premier for a total of more than 13 years, entrenching himself so firmly at the top that some have labelled him "King Bibi," using his nickname since childhood.
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