Israel’s opposition party concedes defeat in election

Israel’s Blue and White party leaders are conceding defeat in Israel’s election.

Yair Lapid, the party’s second in command, told a press conference that though his party “did not win in this round, I respect the voters”.

He said his party will “embitter” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s life from the opposition.

The Blue and White party, headed by former army chief of staff Benny Gantz, drew even with Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party, but the incumbent prime minister is poised to form a government with his larger bloc of religious and nationalist allies.

Mr Gantz says his party has “founded a true alternative rule to Netanyahu”.