Exit polls place Livni's Kadima in front

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By Stan Goodenough
February 10, 2009

Kadima Party Chairwoman Tzipi Livni was predicted to win Israel's General Election Tuesday as exit polls put her two to three mandates ahead of Likud Party leader and former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

But while Kadima got more votes, Netanyahu is believed more likely to be able to form a government, and so may end up being prime minister after all.

The dramatic results capped a day of high political tension as many more voters than anticipated braved nasty winter storm - virtually the only one experienced during this exceptionally dry season - to cast their ballots at the more than 9200 polling stations around the country.

More than 60 percent out of a total 5,278,985 registered voters turned out in what satisfied police described as a smooth election day.

Thirty-three political parties contended for their votes.

The exit polls gave Kadima between 29 and 30 mandates. The Likud got between 25 and 27.

Third in line with a projected 15 seats was the right-wing Israel Our Home Party of Avigdor Lieberman.

Ehud Barak's Labor Party - once the giant leading party in the Jewish state - was trashed, receiving just 13 seats.

While these are only exit poll results, the final results are not expected to differ substantially. Some have wondered though whether there might be enough of a change to alter the position of Kadima and Likud.

That is what happened in 1996 when Netanyahu ran against Shimon Peres. Israel went to bed believing Peres had won, but awoke to learn that "Bibi" had overtaken him with the actual count.

Once the tally is complete, Israeli President Shimon Peres will summon the party head most likely to be able to form a government.

The chosen leader will have to negotiate with the other parties to secure a workable majority.

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