Final results in the Israeli Knesset elections are not expected until later this week. On election night, several exit polls indicated a narrow lead for the opposition, but later updates showed the blocs as essentially equal in size.
Of the three major television channels, Channel 11 and Reshet 13 both give the blocs 51 seats each, while Channel 12 still gives the advantage to the opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot, according to AFP.
Channel I24, on the other hand, shows Prime Minister Netanyahu's bloc with a 55-49 advantage.
A majority requires 61 seats, which could give Arab parties a pivotal role: Both Ra'am and the Joint List coalition are making strong gains according to polls. Together, they could win up to 18 seats, depending on the poll.
On election night, Ra'am party leader Mansour Abbas said he hoped to form a majority together with Eisenkot's opposition coalition, Haaretz reports.
Gadi Eisenkot said in a speech to his supporters that he would try to form a government, but needed to wait for the final election results, The Times of Israel reports.
