Netanyahu short of majority after deadlock in Israeli election vote

Uncertainty hovers over the outcome of Israel's parliamentary election, with both prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and political rivals apparently lacking a clear path to a governing coalition.

Deadlock in the 120-seat parliament is a real possibility a day after the election, which had been dominated by Mr Netanyahu's polarising leadership.

With about 90 per cent of the vote counted by yesterday morning, Mr Netanyahu's Likud party and its ultra-orthodox and far-right allies fell short of a 61-seat majority - even if the Yamina party of Mr Netanyahu's allyturned-critic Naftali Bennett were to join a Netanyahu-led government.

Mr Bennett has refused to endorse either side.

At the same time, a small Arab party has emerged as a potential kingmaker after the latest count indicated it would cross the threshold to get into parliament.

Like Mr Bennett, the head of the Ra'am party, Mansour Abbas, has not ruled out joining either camp.

"We're not in anyone's pocket," he told the 103 FM radio station.

"We're willing to have contact with both of the sides with anyone who is trying to form a government and sees himself as a future prime minister," Mr Abbas added, reflecting the long road of negotiations ahead. "If there's an offer we will sit, we will talk."

A fifth election also remains an option if neither camp can form a coalition.

In that case, Mr Netanyahu would remain a caretaker prime minister heading for a corruption trial and a confrontation with US president Joe Biden over Iran.

The initial results showed the country remains as deeply divided as ever, with an array of small sectarian parties dominating the parliament.

The results also signalled a continuing shift of the Israeli

electorate toward the right wing, which supports West Bank settlements and opposes concessions in peace talks with the Palestinians.

That trend was highlighted by the strong showing of an ultra-nationalist anti-arab religious party.

After three previous inconclusive elections, Mr Netanyahu had been hoping for a decisive victory that would allow him to form a government with his traditional ultra-orthodox and hardline nationalist allies and seek immunity from corruption charges.

In an address to supporters yesterday, a subdued Mr Netanyahu boasted of a "great achievement" but stopped short of declaring victory. Instead, he appeared to reach out to his opponents and called for formation of a "stable government" that would avoid another election. We must not under any circumstances drag the state of Israel to new elections, to a fifth election," he said. "We must form a stable government now."

Mr Bennett could play an outsized role. He shares Netanyahu's hard-line nationalist ideology and would seem to be more likely to ultimately join the prime minister. But Mr Bennett has not ruled out joining forces with Mr Netanyahu's opponents.