TEL AVIV - The Guardian reported that with nearly all votes counted in Israel's election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government has lost its majority. The same report said the main opposition parties also failed to win an outright majority, and that Palestinian parties recorded marked gains.
Axios reported from Tel Aviv that Netanyahu's electoral coalition opened a sizable lead over the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot, with 85 percent of the vote counted. Axios also reported that neither bloc will clear the 61-seat majority.
Axios said Netanyahu outperformed exit polls, which had shown Eisenkot's opposition coalition ahead. The Guardian and Axios describe the count at different stages, with the Guardian citing nearly all votes and Axios citing 85 percent.
Axios said the result sets the stage for "weeks of wrangling" over the country's next government. The Guardian's coverage also includes live updates, a full report on looming coalition talks, and an analysis stating that the rise of Palestinian parties will redraw the political landscape.
The Axios summary does not give seat totals for either bloc, so the exact standing of each side is not stated in the material available for this report.
Sources: The Guardian: Israel election: what we know so far; Axios: Israel faces weeks of political wrangling after deadlocked election.