(17 May 1999) English/Nat
Israelis have elected a new prime minister.
The country's most decorated soldier, Ehud Barak easily defeated Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Monday's elections.
The final results aren't in, but exit polls find Barak ahead with at least 57 percent of the vote - and a tearful Netanyahu quickly conceded defeat.
SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew)
"I would like to congratulate Ehud Barak on his victory. I respect the nation's will - that is the way democracy works."
SUPER CAPTION: Benjamin Netanyahu, outgoing Israeli Prime Minister
SOUNDBITE: (Hebrew)
"I have a lot more to contribute to Israel after 20 years of public service. But I do believe that the time has come to take a break, to spend some time with my family and to decide on what the rest of my political career will be. Therefore, I am declaring to you today my resignation as the leader of the Likud party."
SUPER CAPTION: Benjamin Netanyahu, outgoing Israeli Prime Minister
SOUNDBITE (English)
"I hope that we are the first step for unity, change and new hope for Israel."
SUPER CAPTION: Ehud Barak
SOUNDBITE (English)
"It is an unbelievable victory for Ehud Barak - it is an unbelievable defeat for Bibi Netanyahu - each of them deserves the achievement and the failure - Barak has run a very impressive campaign and Bibi lost his way for the last three years and it appeared very clearly during the electoral campaign."
SUPER CAPTION: Shimon Peres
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"The statement of the Prime Minister Mr Netanyahu - that he quits the leadership of the Likud - will probably start a new war in the Likud itself of the leadership - it will probably be outgoing Foreign Minister Ariel Sharon that will try to rebuild the Likud and Ehud Olmert, mayor of Jerusalem who is most likely to challenge him."
SUPER CAPTION: Akiva Eldar, political analyst
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It doesn't look good - it doesn't look good for what we wanted - we wanted Bibi Netanyahu to get in - we believe that he would have been the better Prime Minister - but they also say we should wait and see - I'm going to wait and see - I'm an optimistic person - I'm gonna wait and see."
SUPER CAPTION: Cindy Cohen, woman settler
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