The Kadima party of acting leader Ehud Olmert won Israel's general election with 29 seats, one more than initially tallied, according to definitive results released by officials today.
Amir Peretz's centre-left Labour party came second with 20 seats, the same number it was accorded in near final results on
Wednesday.
The ultra-Orthodox Shas party was given 12 seats, one down from its initial 13. The previously dominant right-wing Likud was up one from 11.
That elevated Likud to joint third place, a significant improvement on its initial fifth place.
Even so, it was the worst ever defeat for the party that won 38 seats in the previous parliament.
