Israel heading for new elections

Israel is preparing for its fourth parliamentary election in less than two years, bringing an unprecedented threat to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s lengthy grip on power


Benjamin Netanyahu 
Likud
Israel’s longest- serving leader faces challenge from three right-wing rivals
 
Gideon Saar
New Hope
Broke from Likud in early December to set up new party dedicated
to ousting Netanyahu

Naftali Bennett
Yamina
Former aide to Netanyahu leads religious right-wing party that has surged in polls

Avigdor Lieberman 
Yisrael Beiteinu 
Netanyahu’s former chief of staff says prime minister is unfit to lead


Knesset seat projections (based on Dec 22 poll for Kan public TV)
 
CENTRE
Yesh Atid-Telem: 13 
Blue and White: 6

LEFT-WING Meretz: 6

ARAB 
Joint List 11

RIGHT-WING
Yisrael Beiteinu: 6   
Likud: 28
New Hope: 20 
Yamina: 15

ULTRA- ORTHODOX
Shas: 8 
United Torah Judaism 7

Total: 120 
61 needed for majority


Sources: AP, Times of Israel
Pictures: Getty Images
© GRAPHIC NEWS