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Israel election result too close to call - exit polls Israel election result too close to call - exit polls
(about 1 hour later)
Exit polls following Israel's second general election in five months suggest the result is too close to call. Unofficial results in Israel's second election in five months suggest it is too close to call, Israeli media say.
Incumbent PM Benjamin Netanyahu's party is projected to win 30 to 33 seats and that of his main challenger, Benny Gantz, 32-34 seats. Incumbent PM Benjamin Netanyahu's party and that of his main challenger, Benny Gantz, are neck and neck with 32 seats each, the Kan public broadcaster says.
A prime minister needs to command a 61-seat majority in parliament. The smaller Yisrael Beiteinu party appears to hold the balance of power.A prime minister needs to command a 61-seat majority in parliament. The smaller Yisrael Beiteinu party appears to hold the balance of power.
Official results are expected on Wednesday morning. Official partial results are expected on Wednesday morning.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader, is vying to win a record fifth term in office. Mr Netanyahu, who leads the right-wing Likud party, has pledged to annex Jewish settlements and a swathe of other territory in the occupied West Bank if he is returned to power.Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader, is vying to win a record fifth term in office. Mr Netanyahu, who leads the right-wing Likud party, has pledged to annex Jewish settlements and a swathe of other territory in the occupied West Bank if he is returned to power.
Palestinians, who seek a state in the West Bank, have warned such a move will kill any hopes for peace. Palestinians, who seek a state in the West Bank and Gaza, with its capital in occupied East Jerusalem, have warned such a move will kill any hopes for peace.
Mr Gantz, who leads the centrist Blue and White party, has not advocated any form of annexation though his position on the creation of a Palestinian state is unclear.Mr Gantz, who leads the centrist Blue and White party, has not advocated any form of annexation though his position on the creation of a Palestinian state is unclear.
Mr Netanyahu called the snap election after failing to form a governing coalition in the wake of an election in April. Like Mr Netanyahu, he has ruled out ever dividing Jerusalem, which Israel considers its capital.
What are the exit polls saying? On Wednesday morning, Yisrael Beiteinu's leader Avigdor Lieberman, reiterated that he would only support a government comprising both Likud and Blue and White.
A revised exit poll released by Israel's public broadcaster Kan early on Wednesday projected that Blue and White would win 32 seats and Likud 31 in the 120-seat Knesset. However, Blue and White has ruled out sitting with Mr Netanyahu in a coalition.
In third place was the Israeli Arab Joint List with 13 seats; followed by Avigdor Lieberman's secular nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party with nine; the ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties with nine and eight respectively; the right-wing Yamina party with seven, and the left-wing Labour-Gesher and Democratic Union alliances with six and five respectively. What are the latest results?
Channel 12 News put Blue and White and Likud level on 32 seats, while an updated poll Channel 13 News predicted that Blue and White would win 32 seats and Likud 30. Official results have been slow to be released, with only 30% of votes counted by 09:15 (06:15 GMT).
There was a muted response at Likud's election night headquarters in Tel Aviv as the exit polls were released. They put Likud slightly ahead of Blue and White, with the ultra-Orthodox Shas party third and Yisrael Beiteinu fourth, but without indicating how this translates into seats in the knesset (parliament).
According to the Times of Israel, Kan is reporting unofficial results based on what it says is 96.9% of votes counted.
It puts Likud and Blue and White both on 32 seats; the Israeli Arab Joint List second on 12 seats; Yisrael Beiteinu on nine; the ultra-Orthodox parties on 17 between them; the right-wing Yamina alliance on seven; Labour-Gesher on 6 and the centre-left Democratic Camp on 5.
Based on these reported results, neither Mr Netanyahu nor Mr Gantz can form a majority coalition without support from Yisrael Beiteinu.
Exit polls earlier presented a similar picture.
There was a muted response at Likud's election night headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Hundreds of chairs for party supporters remained empty, as activists were kept outside the hall and leaders digested the numbers.Hundreds of chairs for party supporters remained empty, as activists were kept outside the hall and leaders digested the numbers.
Likud's foreign affairs director noted that Israeli exit polls had got things wrong in the past. Last time, they underestimated the number of votes for Likud and also for some of the religious parties allied to Mr Netanyahu.Likud's foreign affairs director noted that Israeli exit polls had got things wrong in the past. Last time, they underestimated the number of votes for Likud and also for some of the religious parties allied to Mr Netanyahu.
"There is no point starting to work out a coalition based on these numbers as they will change," Eli Hazan said."There is no point starting to work out a coalition based on these numbers as they will change," Eli Hazan said.
But Blue and White was "cautiously optimistic" that Israel would get new leadership, spokeswoman Melody Sucharewicz told the Times of Israel.But Blue and White was "cautiously optimistic" that Israel would get new leadership, spokeswoman Melody Sucharewicz told the Times of Israel.
The election has been a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu's last 10 years in office. In opposition strongholds in Tel Aviv I saw queues of voters were waiting and hoping to end his political career.The election has been a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu's last 10 years in office. In opposition strongholds in Tel Aviv I saw queues of voters were waiting and hoping to end his political career.
Mr Netanyahu was, as usual, a formidable campaigner, even starring in his own commercials. His message was that he's the only one - with his powerful friends like Donald Trump - to protect Israelis from Iran and the Palestinians.Mr Netanyahu was, as usual, a formidable campaigner, even starring in his own commercials. His message was that he's the only one - with his powerful friends like Donald Trump - to protect Israelis from Iran and the Palestinians.
On walkabout in Tel Aviv, I saw Avigdor Lieberman, who could be the politician the prime minister fears most once the coalition negotiations start. His Yisrael Beiteinu party could hold the balance of power.On walkabout in Tel Aviv, I saw Avigdor Lieberman, who could be the politician the prime minister fears most once the coalition negotiations start. His Yisrael Beiteinu party could hold the balance of power.
One important factor is that although he used to be a major ally of the prime minister, now they're opponents, even enemies.One important factor is that although he used to be a major ally of the prime minister, now they're opponents, even enemies.
After the exit polls Mr Lieberman's supporters were the only ones who were celebrating. If the results back that up - polls aren't always accurate - then the Netanyahu era in Israeli politics is ending.After the exit polls Mr Lieberman's supporters were the only ones who were celebrating. If the results back that up - polls aren't always accurate - then the Netanyahu era in Israeli politics is ending.
Once the votes are counted, it could take weeks of coalition horse-trading before the next government and prime minister emerge.Once the votes are counted, it could take weeks of coalition horse-trading before the next government and prime minister emerge.
What could happen next?What could happen next?
The BBC's Tom Bateman says that if the polls are correct Mr Netanyahu has no simple route to government. In fact, the figures put him in an even weaker position than after April's election, when coalition talks collapsed, he adds. The BBC's Tom Bateman says that if the projections are correct Mr Netanyahu has no simple route to government. In fact, the figures put him in an even weaker position than after April's election, when coalition talks collapsed, he adds.
Mr Gantz could emerge as leader of the largest party, but he could have an even more complex job to form a government. Mr Gantz could have an even more complex job to form a government.
Mr Lieberman, an ally-turned-rival of the prime minister, could be crucial in deciding who takes office.Mr Lieberman, an ally-turned-rival of the prime minister, could be crucial in deciding who takes office.
He prevented Mr Netanyahu from forming a coalition after the last vote because he refused to back down over a longstanding dispute with religious parties over a bill governing exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox young men.He prevented Mr Netanyahu from forming a coalition after the last vote because he refused to back down over a longstanding dispute with religious parties over a bill governing exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox young men.
At a rally in Jerusalem on Tuesday night, Mr Lieberman reiterated a call he made during the campaign for unity government.
"We only have one option," he told supporters. "A broad, liberal, national government made up of Yisrael Beiteinu, Likud and Blue and White."
Our correspondent says such a coalition only seems feasible if Mr Netanyahu were toppled as leader of Likud, as opposition groups have vowed not to sit with him at the helm.
Other possibilities could well play out first, including a third election, complicated by Mr Netanyahu's looming hearing on corruption allegations, he adds. The prime minister denies any wrongdoing.
If the official results prove to be inconclusive, it will fall to President Reuven Rivlin to decide who gets the mandate to try to form a government. That person will have 28 days to do so, with a possible extension of not more than 14 days.