HAIFA, Israel—Israel’s former premier Benjamin Netanyahu is poised to return to power, claiming a “huge vote of confidence” from voters and declaring that his coalition of conservative parties is on the cusp of an election win.
“The people want a different way. They want security,” Netanyahu said. “They want power, not weakness … they want diplomatic wisdom, but with firmness.”
Election Results Update
As of Wednesday at 10 p.m. local time, 4,843,023 Israelis voted, 71.3 percent of eligible voters.
As of 2 p.m. local time, 85.9 percent of votes have been counted, and Netanyahu’s conservative Likud Party and its allies are on pace to control a majority in parliament….