In Israel, the vote counting is nearly done... after millions there cast their ballots in a parliamentary election on Tuesday.
Although the official results are yet to come, sitting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu... has claimed victory for his Likud party... and is now ready to form a new government.
Kwon Soa has this report.
A clear, but surprising win.
Sitting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party claimed victory in Tuesday's parliamentary elections.


"Against all odds: a great victory for Likud."

Israeli media reported that with nearly all of the votes counted on Wednesday morning, local time, Netanyahu's party won at least 29 seats out of 1-hundred-20 in the Knesset, Israel's parliament.
The party's main rival, the center-left Zionist Union led by Isaac Herzog, won 24 seats.
The Likud Party's victory came as a surprise, as pre-election polls on Friday showed the opposition party in the lead and Tuesday's exit polls had the two parties tied.
Once the results are confirmed, Netanyahu will embark on forming new coalition government with other smaller parties,... a process that could be months-in-the-making.


"I spoke tonight with all party leaders in the national camp, and I asked them to join me and form a government without delay. Reality does not take a break. Israeli citizens expect us to quickly form a responsible leadership that will work for them and this is what we will do."

The key issues in the race... were less focused on security issues than they were in the past... and more on domestic issues related to the soaring cost of living and housing prices.
The election results could give Netanyahu a fourth term, making him Israel's longest serving prime minister.
Kwon Soa, Arirang News.