ISRAEL ELECTS BARAK

May 18, 1999
		As predicted by exit polls, Ehud Barak has been elected prime minister of Israel. With 98 percent of the votes counted, Mr. Barak garnered 56 percent of the vote compared to 44 percent for Mr. Netanyahu. -- Posted 12:30 pm EDT

Israeli Election Index May 17, 1999: A discussion on Israel's elections. Browse the NewsHour's coverage of the Middle East   Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Knesset The Jerusalem Post's Election '99 site The Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC

Late last night, Mr. Barak acknowledged his victory and told his supporters that the "time for peace has come." "We know that it is the duty of our generation, which fought Israel's wars, to do what is possible to strengthen the state's security by advancing it toward peace agreements," Mr. Barak told a rally in Tel Aviv. The prime minister-elect also said that Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel and any final peace agreement will be put to a national referendum. A complete transcript of Mr. Barak's victory speech can be found on the BBC's Web site. President Clinton phoned Mr. Barak last night to offer his congratulations. He also spoke with outgoing Prime Minister Netanayhu. In a White House statement, the president said he looks "forward to working closely with Ehud Barak and his new government as they strive to reach that goal with their Palestinian and Arab partners." The prime minister-elect now has 45 days to form a government. With his One Israel ticket winning 27 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, Israel's parliament, Mr. Barak will have to seek support from other parties to form a governing coalition. -- Compiled from Wire sources

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