With more than 90% of the votes counted in the legislative elections in Israel, current forecasts give Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc 53 seats, compared to 48 for the opposition Gadi Eisenkot's alliance. Arab parties are expected to gain a record 19 seats.
It is likely that the remaining absentee ballots will not significantly change the result. Without a bloc reaching the required 61 seats in the Knesset, Israel faces a prolonged period of political uncertainty as rival camps seek the support needed to form a government.