Israel Election Heads for Deadlock Between Netanyahu and Gantz With 60% of the votes counted,
it still remains unclear who will
be the next prime minister of Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving
prime minister, is seeking his fifth term. To win, Netanyahu's Likud party
needs to command 61 seats in
the Knesset (parliament). As of Tuesday, the incumbent holds 31
as his opponent, Benny Gantz, holds 32. The outcome may depend on
each candidate's stance on annexing
Jewish settlements and territories in the
West Bank, which Netanyahu plans to do. Gantz's Blue and White party has not
issued an official stance on annexation
but has stated he will not divide Jerusalem. Neither party can take the lead
without support from Yisrael Beiteinu,
whose leader wants a government of both
Likud and Blue and White.