Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu looks all but certain to stay in office for a record fifth term after his biggest election challenger, Benny Gantz, admitted defeat on Wednesday.
With almost all votes counted, both men’s parties are neck and neck.
But a coalition between Mr Netanyahu’s Likud and smaller right-wing and religious parties could form a 65 seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset.
US President Donald Trump has already offered his congratulations.
Mr Netanyahu tweeted that the president had called him from Air Force One – the US presidential aircraft – on Wednesday.
If he forms a new governing coalition, Mr Netanyahu would be on course to become Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, overtaking the country’s founding father David Ben-Gurion.
