Israel’s election ended in an apparent deadlock on Tuesday, exit polls by major television networks showed, with neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his main rival Gadi Eisenkot on track for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.
The stalemate could work in Netanyahu’s favour, allowing the long-serving prime minister to remain in power in a caretaker capacity while parties try to forge a governing coalition.
Final results could take days, and Israel’s fragmented political system leaves smaller parties potential kingmakers. No single party has ever won 61 seats outright in the 120-seat Knesset, making coalitions the norm.