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| - Two weeks before he stands trial on corruption charges, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pulled off his best-ever electoral performance. While his right-wing camp will likely end up two seats short of the 61 needed for a parliamentary majority, the result marks a dramatic turnaround for the veteran premier, whose career was teetering on the brink of collapse. Here are five factors that led to his win. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, has a base that is loyal to him personally. Supporters, especially those in Israel's less wealthy areas, often refer to him as "King Bibi," using his nickname. Avi Hyman, a member of the Netanyahu campaign, told AFP the prime minister stepped up his personal pitch this time around as compared to inconclusive April and September elections. "The strategy totally changed," he said. "He did two to three large rallies a night... He said to people, 'if you want me to be prime minister, you have to vote for me.'" Despite the fact Netanyahu's main rival is a former army chief of staff, Benny Gantz, the premier has repeatedly insisted he was best placed to keep Israel safe. Netanyahu has warned of the threat Israel faces from Iran and repeatedly threatened tougher action against Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the Gaza strip. He also claimed that President Donald Trump's controversial peace plan, widely viewed as pro-Israeli, was earned in part through his personal bond with the US leader -- and could only be implemented if he was re-elected. In this campaign, Netanyahu made a clear pitch to Russian-speakers who previously backed his Moldovan-born rival Avigdor Lieberman, head of the secular nationalist Yisrael Beiteinu party. Netanyahu also made several public appearances alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin and distributed Russian-language campaign messages by text and on social media. Lieberman's support declined compared to September polls -- probably to Netanyahu's benefit. The prime minister also pledged to build thousands of new homes for Jewish settlers in annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank. Many saw that as a bid to energise his right-wing settler base. Netanyahu also broadened his camp by poaching one of two Ethiopian-Israeli lawmakers from Gantz's Blue and White alliance. After weeks of political mudslinging, Israel's President Reuven Rivlin blasted the latest election campaign as "grubby and awful." "I only (feel) a deep sense of shame," said the president, a largely ceremonial figure, without blaming either side. The campaign's closing weeks included the release of various leaked recordings, several that sought to undermine Gantz personally. Netanyahu also added former Breitbart journalist Aaron Klein to his campaign team, personally thanking him in his victory speech early Tuesday. Breitbart was previously led by Donald Trump's former campaign chief Steve Bannon, who has often advocated for tough personal attacks in political contests. Klein's specific role in the Netanyahu election is not publicly known. "The dispute between (Netanyahu and Gantz's camps) is one of identities much more than ideas," wrote prominent left-wing columnist Gideon Levy. Like Netanyahu, Gantz has positioned himself as a security hawk who would take a hardline regarding the Palestinians. But speaking to AFP outside a Jerusalem polling centre on Monday, one Blue and White supporter said she backed Gantz despite finding him uninspiring. "There is nothing else to vote for, for people with my opinions," said 27-year-old Inbal, who asked her last name be withheld. Results indicated that Gantz struggled to turn out his base, possibly pointing to an enthusiasm gap. gl/jod/bs/par
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