Gantz claims election victory over Netanyahu
JERUSALEM - Challenger Benny Gantz claimed victory over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel's election on Tuesday after two out of three TV exit polls gave his centrist party the biggest showing in parliamentary seats.
"We won! The Israeli public has had its say!" Gantz's Blue and White party said in a statement. There was no immediate comment from Netanyahu's conservative Likud.
However, two exit polls predicted a parliamentary majority for a Netanyahu-led bloc of rightist parties. The third exit poll predicted this bloc would be tied with centre-left parties that Gantz would have to enlist to form a coalition government.
