Israel’s election gives survivor Netanyahu a path to keep power

DUBAI – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pulled ahead on Wednesday as votes were counted in Israel’s election, but the loss of a parliamentary majority leaves his path to another term dependent on drawing rivals into a coalition. With the turnout in Tuesday’s election at a record high and nearly 86% of votes tallied, Israel’s three main broadcasters put Netanyahu’s bloc of right-wing, far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties on course to win 53 seats in parliament, with the opposition bloc of rival Gadi Eisenkot trailing on 48. Both remained short of the 61 seats needed for a majority in the Knesset, or parliament, while parties representing Arab Israelis were projected to win 19 seats.