Israel: Blue and White leader Gantz seeks 'broad national unity government'

W/S Blue and White alliance leader Benny Gantz greets coalition partners Gabi Ashkenazi, Moshe Ya'alon and Yair Lapid before approaching podium on election night rally, Tel Aviv
SOT, Benny Gantz, Blue and White alliance leader (Hebrew): "We took on ourselves a hard mission, and we will wait patiently to the final results but still we can say, that it seems [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu didn't not achieve his goal. (Applause). As opposed to him, we proved that the idea of Blue and White, that we stated only half a year ago, succeeded big time and is here to stay." *JUMP CUT*
SOT, Benny Gantz, Blue and White alliance leader (Hebrew): "The political negotiations started tonight, I already spoke with [Labour party leader] Amir Peretz and [Meretz party leader] Nitzan Horowitz, and we decided to meet in the coming days. I will speak in the coming days with [Yisrael Beiteinu leader] Avigdor Lieberman and other partners, I will speak with everyone. (Applause). From tonight, we will work to establish a broad national unity government that will represent the while of most of the society, a government that will work on priority issues as we think it should be. *JUMP CUT*
W/S Gantz ends speech, greets supporters and coalition partners *JUMP CUT*
W/S Gantz and team on stage
W/S Gantz and team wave to supporters at election HQ
SCRIPT
Israel's Blue and White alliance leader Benny Gantz said he would start work on a "broad national unity government" as exit polls suggested his party would be the largest in the Knesset.
Speaking to supporters at an election rally in Tel Aviv on Tuesday night, the former military chief said he had spoken to leaders of the left-wing parties and was open to negotiating with "everyone", including potential kingmaker and Yisrael Beiteinu leader Avigdor Lieberman.
He was joined on stage by his coalition partners Gabi Ashkenazi, Moshe Ya'alon and Yair Lapid.
Exit polls suggest the race is too close to call. The Blue and White alliance led by former general Benny Gantz is projected to win between 32 and 34 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party 31 to 33.
Lieberman's party may hold sway in a new government.
Coalition negotiations are expected to start soon with results coming on Wednesday morning.