Summary
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's battle for political survival looked set to stretch on for days or weeks after exit polls following Tuesday's elections showed the race too close to call. The surveys by Israeli television stations gave Netanyahu's right-wing Likud 31-33 of Parliament's 120 seats compared with 32-34 for the centrist Blue and White led by Benny Gantz, a former general.
Without Lieberman's support, the polls suggested, Likud could put together a right-wing coalition controlling only up to 57 parliamentary seats, while Blue and White could enlist no more than 58 legislators -- meaning both parties would fall short of the 61 needed for a governing majority.
An end to the Netanyahu era, after a decade in power, would be unlikely to bring about a significant change in policy on hotly disputed issues in the peace process with the Palestinians that collapsed five years ago.
That could be complicated: Lieberman has said he would not join a coalition that included ultra-Orthodox parties -- Netanyahu's traditional allies. Gantz has ruled out participating in an administration with Netanyahu, if the Israeli leader is indicted on looming corruption charges.
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