Netanyahu may be on course for a dramatic comeback, Israeli exit polls suggest
Former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is attempting a political comeback in Tuesday’s election with the help of far-right Jewish Power.
TEL AVIV — Just over a year after being ousted, former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to be on the verge of a political comeback in Tuesday’s election with the help of a far-right party led by one of the country’s most extreme politicians.
Israeli exit polls indicated that the bloc led by Netanyahu was winning a slim majority in the 120-member parliament, while the outgoing coalition, led by Prime Minister Yair Lapid, was projected to win 54 seats.
Elections officials worked through the night tallying votes. Early on Wednesday, nearly 45% of the ballots had been counted, and the final outcome remained unclear.
If the projections hold up, it would be a remarkable turnabout for Netanyahu, who had been Israel’s longest-serving prime minister and whose 15-year run was brought to an end last year by an unusual coalition of opposition parties.
The coalition that unseated Netanyahu collapsed in June amid ideological differences, plunging Israel into its fifth election in less than four years — and opening the door to a potential return by Netanyahu, 73, who is also standing trial on corruption charges.
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