Benny Gantz, head of Blue and White party, applauds after delivering a speech following the announcement of exit polls in Israel's parliamentary election at his party headquarters in Tel Aviv, Israel April 10, 2019. Photo by REUTERS/Amir Cohen

After close Israeli election, Benny Gantz’s party concedes defeat

World

Israel's Blue and White party leaders are conceding defeat in Israel's election, saying they will work against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the opposition.

Yair Lapid, the party's No. 2 figure, told a press conference Wednesday that though his party "did not win in this round, I respect the voters." He said his party will "embitter" Netanyahu's life from the opposition.

The Blue and White party, headed by former army chief of staff Benny Gantz, drew even with Netanyahu's Likud party, but the incumbent prime minister is poised to form a government with his larger bloc of religious and nationalist allies.

Gantz says his party has "founded a true alternative rule to Netanyahu."

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After close Israeli election, Benny Gantz’s party concedes defeat first appeared on the PBS News website.

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