Netanyahu's future unclear as exit polls forecast stalemate in Israel's election

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's prospects for retaining power were uncertain on March 24 after exit polls in Israel's fourth national election in two years projected yet another stalemate.

With final results not due until later in the week, the forecasts indicated that even Netanyahu's stewardship of a world-beating COVID-19 vaccination rollout - a showcase of his campaign - may not have been enough to propel him to victory.

Initial projections by Israel's three main TV channels after Tuesday's voting gave Netanyahu, leader of the right-wing Likud party, an edge, based on the potential support of an ultranationalist rival, Naftali Bennett, once his defence minister.

But amended forecasts indicated deadlock even with Bennett's prospective backing, with a parliament divided equally between Netanyahu's likely opponents and supporters.

Israel's opposition made a better showing than expected, and support for Likud dipped, exit polls showed, after Netanyahu's critics highlighted corruption charges against the country's longest-serving leader and accused him of mishandling the pandemic.

On social media, Netanyahu claimed a "huge victory" over the group of left-wing, centre and rightist parties trying to unseat him - even as the TV projections failed to bear that out.

He did not repeat the claim in an election night speech at a Likud rally, saying only that its projected number of seats in parliament, around 30, was "a great achievement" - it took 36 in the previous election - and that he hoped to form a "stable right-wing government".

Unless coalition-building talks, which have followed every election Israel has held since its creation in 1948, break a stalemate, a fifth national ballot could ensue.

Bennett's...