Israel election: Netanyahu claims poll 'victory'. The change that never came. A clue for Nigeria Elections. Coalition might be necessary
The BBC's Jeremy Bowen: "If the result that emerges is a government of national unity, another election might not be too far off"
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed victory in Israel's parliamentary election.
This was despite TV exit polls suggesting his Likud party had finished in a virtual tie with the left-of-centre Zionist Union.
Mr Netanyahu said he had already spoken to the leaders of other right-of-centre parties about forming a new government.
But opposition leader Yitzha Herzog said the result showed his alliance could not be ignored.
Estimates by two Israeli broadcasters gave both sides 27 seats each in the 120-seat parliament, the Knesset.
In a speech to his jubilant supporters in Tel Aviv, Mr Netanyahu described Tuesday's vote as a "great victory" for the right-wing Likud party, which is now credited with a better result than expected.
Likud supporters celebrated after the exit polls were announced
Zionist Union said a negotiation team would attempt to form a coalition
Likud had trailed the centre-left Zionist Union in opinion polls in the run-up to the poll.
Mr Netanyahu said the result was achieved "against all odds".
He urged the leaders of what he described as Israel's "national camp" to create "a government without delay".
However, the centre-left Zionist Union dismissed what it termed "spin" from Likud as "premature".
At the scene: BBC's Kevin Connolly, Likud HQ, Tel Aviv
The Likud activists were dancing and singing within minutes of the TV stations broadcasting their exit polls quite simply because they can see a relatively simple pathway towards the formation of another right-wing coalition.
It would involve Mr Netanyahu teaming up with the secularists of Yisraeli Beitenu and Kulanu, and adding the religious nationalists of Jewish Home and the parties that represent ultra-orthodox Jews like Shas.
The outline of a workable coalition can be seen much more easily from this vantage point than from the point of view of the leftist Zionist Union led by Yitzhak Herzog.
He campaigned well and if the exit polls are to be believed he polled pretty well too - but the coalition arithmetic simply doesn't look so good for him.
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