// BBC WORLD NEWS — MONDO
Arab parties could hold key as Netanyahu and Eisenkot set to fall short of victory
Arab parties could end up holding the balance of power
With results still trickling in, it currently appears that Israel's veteran Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has done better than was widely predicted with his Likud emerging as the largest single party.
His existing bloc with ultra-nationalist and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties appear to be just short of a 61-seat majority in the 120-seat parliament. However, analysts caution that this is subject to change because the early count was skewed towards areas known to have strong right-wing support.
A dramatic deadlock had been widely forecast as Israelis surged to the polls – with turnout reaching more than 77%.
In Israel's fragmented political system, the signs are that Netanyahu's main rival, the former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, would struggle to command a parliamentary majority without parties led by Israel's Arab minority. According to partial results, they have equalled or gained on their previous record number of seats.
On the campaign trail, most Jewish opposition parties pledged not to work with Arab-majority lists, citing a lack of shared values.
However, Israel's Arab-led parties could emerge as kingmakers if others were prepared to join forces with them. In this election, Arab Israelis – who often identify as Palestinian citizens of Israel and represent one-fifth of the population – appeared to turn out in unprecedented numbers.
Israeli exit polls suggest no clear winner with Eisenkot's bloc neck and neck with Netanyahu
Israel and the US are both going to the polls - the consequences will be global
Many saw this as a make-or-break election to defeat Israel's most right-wing-ever government, accusing it of stoking racism and hatred.