Senior Palestinian official says Israelis voted 'no to peace'

The exit polls showed right-wing Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu and centrist challenger Benny Gantz neck and neck after the election, with left-wing parties committed to the peace process far behind.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab & agencies

10 April, 2019

The polls put Netanyahu's Likud with between 33 and 36 seats [Anadolu]

A senior Palestinian official said that Israelis had voted "no to peace" after exit polls following the country's general election showed its left-wing parties were badly defeated.

"Israelis have voted to preserve the status quo. They have said no to peace and yes to the occupation," senior Palestinian official Saeb Erekat said in a statement.

The polls put Netanyahu's Likud with between 33 and 36 seats in the 120-seat parliament, while Gantz's Blue and White had either 36 or 37.

A combination of Netanyahu's Likud and smaller right-wing parties allied to him had between 60 and 66 seats, according to the exit polls.

Gantz's Blue and White alliance along with other smaller parties had between 54 and 60 seats, the polls showed.

Exit polls have proven to be unreliable in past Israeli elections, and final official results were not expected until early on Wednesday.

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