Preliminary exit poll estimates released by Israel’s three major broadcasters late Tuesday show an election too close to call.
Channel 2 Israel reports the Likud party, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has a slight lead over the Zionist Union, led by Isaac Herzog — 28 seats, over 27 seats. Channels 10 and 1 show the two tied with 27 seats each.
The incumbent said his camp prevailed.
“Against all odds: a great victory for the Likud. A major victory for the people of Israel!” Netanyahu tweeted soon after the estimates were released.
Millions of Israelis cast their votes to determine their country’s next Prime Minister and the makeup of its parliament.
Ballots are for political parties rather than individual candidates. Israel has a proportional representation system, meaning a coalition government is likely to be formed within its 120-seat Knesset.
CNN’s Elise Labott described the early results as a stunning turnaround for Netanyahu, who took a sharp turn toward the right during the final days of the hotly-contested campaign.
“It seems to have worked. He seems to have energized that right-wing base and now he is neck-and-neck with Isaac Herzog, even inching a little bit ahead of him,” she said.
“We’ll have to see who’s able to form the coalition with the other parties, but it does look as if Prime Minister Netanyahu has fought his way back and has a very good chance of forming this government.”
Before polls closed Tuesday, Netanyahu released a video on his Facebook page urging his supporters to vote, suggesting that leftists are bringing “huge amounts” of Israel’s Arab citizens to the polls to vote against his Likud party.
“The right regime is in danger, the Arab voters are coming in huge amounts to the polls,” Netanyahu said. “The leftists are bringing them (Arabs) in huge amounts to polls using buses. … We have an urgent wake-up call.”
Arabs make up about 20% of Israel’s population.
Moshe Kahlon, a former Likud minister who now heads the Kulanu party, said Netanyahu’s statement “clearly shows he is feeling the pressure.”
“These remarks were inappropriate and regrettable,” Kahlon said.
Polls closed at 10 p.m. local time (4 p.m. ET).
Following the release of exit poll estimates, President Reuven Rivlin said that citizens need a ruling government as soon as possible.
“The President will work with all the election bodies to start the consultations process ASAP. We hope to start as soon as Sunday,” his office said in a statement.