DUBAI ¨C Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pulled ahead on Wednesday as votes were counted in Israel¡¯s election, but the loss of a parliamentary majority leaves his path to another term dependent on drawing rivals into a coalition.
With the turnout in Tuesday¡¯s election at a record high and nearly 86% of votes tallied, Israel¡¯s three main broadcasters put Netanyahu¡¯s bloc of right-wing, far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties on course to win 53 seats in parliament, with the opposition bloc of rival Gadi Eisenkot trailing on 48.
Both remained short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in the Knesset, or parliament, while parties representing Arab Israelis were projected to win 19 seats.
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