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| Israel election: No clear winner, exit polls suggest | Israel election: No clear winner, exit polls suggest |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Israel's governing Likud party and the opposition Zionist Union are neck-and-neck in Israel's general election, according to exit polls. | Israel's governing Likud party and the opposition Zionist Union are neck-and-neck in Israel's general election, according to exit polls. |
| Estimates by two Israeli broadcasters gave both sides 27 seats each in the 120-seat parliament, the Knesset. | Estimates by two Israeli broadcasters gave both sides 27 seats each in the 120-seat parliament, the Knesset. |
| Both would need support from other parties to form a governing coalition. | Both would need support from other parties to form a governing coalition. |
| Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the vote as a "great victory" for his Likud party, which is credited with a better result than expected. | Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the vote as a "great victory" for his Likud party, which is credited with a better result than expected. |
| In a speech to his jubilant supporters in Tel Aviv, he said this was achieved "against all odds". | |
| Referring to the Israeli voters, he said: "You are all important to me." He also urged the leaders of what he described as Israel's "national camp" to create "a government without delay". | |
| Likud had trailed the centre-left Zionist Union in opinion polls in the run-up to the poll. | Likud had trailed the centre-left Zionist Union in opinion polls in the run-up to the poll. |
| However, the centre-left Zionist Union dismissed what it termed "spin" from Likud as "premature". | |
| Yitzhak Herzog, head of the Zionist Union, said: "We will wait for the real results. Everything is open. The public wants a change." | |
| "We have achieved an unbelievable achievement today." | |
| Final results are not expected until Wednesday morning. | Final results are not expected until Wednesday morning. |
| At the scene: BBC's Kevin Connolly, Likud HQ, Tel Aviv | At the scene: BBC's Kevin Connolly, Likud HQ, Tel Aviv |
| The Likud activists were dancing and singing within minutes of the TV stations broadcasting their exit polls quite simply because they can see a relatively simple pathway towards the formation of another right-wing coalition. | The Likud activists were dancing and singing within minutes of the TV stations broadcasting their exit polls quite simply because they can see a relatively simple pathway towards the formation of another right-wing coalition. |
| It would involve Mr Netanyahu teaming up with the secularists of Yisraeli Beitenu and Kulanu, and adding the religious nationalists of Jewish Home and the parties that represent ultra-orthodox Jews like Shas. | It would involve Mr Netanyahu teaming up with the secularists of Yisraeli Beitenu and Kulanu, and adding the religious nationalists of Jewish Home and the parties that represent ultra-orthodox Jews like Shas. |
| The outline of a workable coalition can be seen much more easily from this vantage point than from the point of view of the leftist Zionist Union led by Yitzhak Herzog. | The outline of a workable coalition can be seen much more easily from this vantage point than from the point of view of the leftist Zionist Union led by Yitzhak Herzog. |
| He campaigned well and if the exit polls are to be believed he polled pretty well too - but the coalition arithmetic simply doesn't look so good for him. | He campaigned well and if the exit polls are to be believed he polled pretty well too - but the coalition arithmetic simply doesn't look so good for him. |
| Likud celebrates surprise success | Likud celebrates surprise success |
| When final results are known, Israel's president will give the task of forming a government to a party leader who he thinks has the strongest chance of assembling a coalition. | When final results are known, Israel's president will give the task of forming a government to a party leader who he thinks has the strongest chance of assembling a coalition. |
| Haaretz newspaper quotes President Reuven Rivlin as saying: "Only a unity government can prevent the rapid disintegration of Israel's democracy and new elections in near future." | Haaretz newspaper quotes President Reuven Rivlin as saying: "Only a unity government can prevent the rapid disintegration of Israel's democracy and new elections in near future." |
| Israel's form of proportional representation always produces smaller parties and coalition government, the BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen in Tel Aviv reports. | |
| He says Mr Netanyahu's premature declaration of victory was based on his confidence that he has more allies among the smaller parties than Mr Herzog. | |
| Mr Netanyahu could become Israel's longest-serving leader if he secures a fourth term. | Mr Netanyahu could become Israel's longest-serving leader if he secures a fourth term. |
| No party has ever won an outright majority under Israel's proportional representation voting system. | No party has ever won an outright majority under Israel's proportional representation voting system. |
| Almost 72% of those eligible voted in the election, which ended at 22:00 local time (20:00 GMT). The turnout was four points higher than the previous election in 2013. | Almost 72% of those eligible voted in the election, which ended at 22:00 local time (20:00 GMT). The turnout was four points higher than the previous election in 2013. |
| Israel's Channel 1 and Channel 10 both projected 27 seats each for Likud and Zionist Union, while Channel 2 gave Likud a one-seat lead, with 28 seats. | Israel's Channel 1 and Channel 10 both projected 27 seats each for Likud and Zionist Union, while Channel 2 gave Likud a one-seat lead, with 28 seats. |
| Sixty-one seats are needed in order to secure a majority. | Sixty-one seats are needed in order to secure a majority. |
| The Joint Arab List, an alliance of Israeli Arab-dominated parties, has come third with about 13 seats, exit polls suggest. | The Joint Arab List, an alliance of Israeli Arab-dominated parties, has come third with about 13 seats, exit polls suggest. |
| It has said, however, that it will not take any positions in government. | It has said, however, that it will not take any positions in government. |
| Mr Netanyahu had vowed not to allow the creation of a Palestinian state if he wins a fourth term, while Zionist Union has expressed support for a two-state solution and promised to repair relations with Palestinians and the international community. | Mr Netanyahu had vowed not to allow the creation of a Palestinian state if he wins a fourth term, while Zionist Union has expressed support for a two-state solution and promised to repair relations with Palestinians and the international community. |
| The main players | The main players |
| Who are the key candidates? | Who are the key candidates? |