Breaking News - Israel's Netanyahu shrugs off surprise losses

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Lior Mizrahi / Getty ImagesIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waves to supporters at his election campaign headquarters early Wednesday morning in Tel Aviv. Exit polls indicate that Netanyahu was re-elected for a third term and will return to office. Israel had the highest turnout of voters since 1999. Hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed victory in Israel's parliamentary election, shrugging off surprise losses to center-left challengers and vowing to stop Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Follow @NBCNewsWorld  Exit polls showed the Israeli leader's right-wing Likud and the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu would remain the biggest bloc in the 120-member assembly, but with only 31 seats. The two parties previously held 42 seats.

If the exit polls compiled by three local broadcasters prove correct – and they normally do in Israel – Netanyahu would be on course for a third term in office, perhaps leading a hardline coalition that would promote Jewish settlement on occupied land.




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