The outcome of the elections was at variance with all the earlier polls, but the exit polls on election night were very accurate and showed the neck and neck race between the two main parties, Kadima and Likud, with the fallback of the Avoda (Labor) and the gains of Yisrael Beiteynu.

With Labor likely to go into opposition while Shas and Yisrael Beiteynu are standing in the wings and more favourable to the Likud than Kadima, there could either be a right-leaning National Unity government or a right-wing government with a very small majority – if so, support would be needed from three of the seven very small parties (there are three on the right wing and four on the left).

Knesset website [Hebrew]

Results and government composition (as updated):

http://www.knesset.gov.il/elections18/heb/results/main_Results.aspx  

MFA website [English] http://www.mfa.gov.il/  :

Election results with 99% of the votes counted (no. of Knesset seats):

• Kadima 28;
• Likud 27;
• Yisrael Beitenu 15;
• Labor 13;
• Shas 11;
• United Torah Judaism 5;
• Hadash 4;
• United Arab List-Ta'al 4;
• National Union 4;
• Meretz 3;
• Habayit Hayehudi 3;
• Balad 3.

Voter turnout: 65.2%