By STEVEN GUTKIN, Associated Press, 10 February 2009
“With God’s help, I will lead the next government,” Netanyahu told a raucous crowd of cheering supporters chanting his nickname Bibi. “The national camp, led by the Likud, has won a clear advantage.”
Soon after, Livni took the stage before a crowd of flag-waving supporters and flashed a V-for victory sign. “Today the people chose Kadima. … We will form the next government led by Kadima.”
Earlier, exit polls showed Livni with a slight lead, but strong gains by right-wing parties overall would make it difficult, and perhaps impossible, for Livni to form a government.
[…]
If Livni’s projected victory holds, it is likely due to a strong showing by ultranationalist candidate Avigdor Lieberman, who appears to have taken a sizable chunk of votes that would have otherwise gone to Netanyahu.
The partial results gave Lieberman’s Yisrael Beitenu Party 16 seats, placing it in third place behind Kadima and Likud — and ahead of Labor, the party that ruled Israel for decades. That gives Lieberman, who based his campaign on denying citizenship to Israeli Arabs he considers disloyal, a key role in coalition building. Livni would almost certainly not be able to form a government without his support.