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i24NEWS DESK | Likud, chaired by Israel's caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, edged ahead of Blue and White alliance with 37-34 seats respectively, an exit poll by Channel 12 shows.
The initial results hint that the alliance led by Benny Gantz could see Likud take its status as Israel's largest party, boosting Netanyahu's position in the coalition talks that will follow. The PM was brief in his initial reaction, saying: "Thank you!"
However, the right-wing bloc sits at 60 seats, according to the exit polls, with 54 mandates for the center-left alliance, suggesting that the deadlock on Israel's political scene may still persist.
In order to build up a ruling coalition, 61 seats are needed in the 120-seat Parliament, with the prospect of a fourth elections still looming over Israel.
The Arab Joint List is projected to remain the third-largest party with its 14 seats, according to the poll. Religious-right Shas and UTJ parties will get 9 and 7, respectively, with right-wing Yamina and left-wing Labor-Gesher-Meretz union both getting 7 as well. Avigdor Liberman's Yisrael Beiteinu gets 6 mandates.
The exit polls follow a high turnout, hitting highest mark in years after the 1999 elections, amid fears of possible voter fatigue.
The March 2 vote saw an increase in the Arab vote, as the Israeli Arabs were energized by the release of the Trump Middle East peace plan, rejected by the Joint Arab List alliance.
It also apparently saw more right-wing voters head to the polling stations to bolster Netanyahu's position -- but, as per the exit poll results, this could still not be enough.
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