Israeli Prime Minister and Likud Party chief Benjamin Netanyahu on September 18 said that he is confident about regaining power, despite the exit polls showing Benny Gantz, his direct rival from the Blue and White party, taking a slight edge over him in the country's recently culminated snap general polls.

As per 9 AM polls on Wednesday, 42% of votes had been counted, with Benjamin Netanyahu's party on 28%, and Blue and White on 27%. The deadlock has led to speculations by Israeli media of a Likud party-led coalition at 54-57 seats, coming short of four seats needed to form a government in the Knesset (unicameral national legislature).

Expressing his confidence of victory and criticising rivals at the same time, Benjamin Netanyahu said, "There cannot be a government that relies on parties that praise and glorify blood-thirsty terrorists who kill our soldiers, our citizens, our children,''  in a speech at Tel Aviv Expo Center on Wednesday.

Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier served as the President of Israel from 996 to 1999, and later resumed power in 2009 and has been at the Presidential seat until now.

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Benjamin Netanyahu's call for Zionist government

Netanyahu addressed supporters at the party headquarters in the early hours of Wednesday stating that Israel will enter into negotiations to establish a strong Zionist government and to prevent a dangerous anti-Zionist government. He made the “anti-Zionist” reference for Israel’s Arab parties, with exit polls showing they could become the third-largest force in parliament. He said that Israel is at a historic point and that the country is facing immense opportunities, and immense challenges, including the existential threat from Iran.

"Israel needs a strong government, a stable government, a Zionist government, a government that is committed to Israel as the nation-state of the Jewish people," he said.

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Benjamin Netanyahu's Presidential run

Wednesday's polls will be the second time that Israel has gone to the polls this year. In April elections, Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to narrowly beat Gantz, but he failed to form a coalition government and so forced a repeat vote to give himself another chance. The Israeli President is fighting not only for his political life but also his freedom. There are three major corruption cases against him whose pre-trial hearings are just weeks away and a majority in the 120-seat parliament could help grant him immunity from prosecution. Last week, Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to declare up to a third of the occupied West Bank as part of Israel if he was re-elected and Gantz swiftly accused his political opponent of stealing his idea.

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