Netanyahu could stay in power as opposition rules out Palestinian-backed coalition

■ Steady

Israel's election leaves no clear winner as opposition rules out Arab-party coalition

Final results show Netanyahu's far-right coalition lost its mandate and the opposition has a majority, but most Jewish opposition parties rule out governing with Palestinian-led parties, which could let Netanyahu stay in office. Earlier on Wednesday, partial results with 85% of ballots counted gave Netanyahu's Likud and its allies 53 of 120 Knesset seats. Balad's leader called the opposition's refusal to ally with Arab parties racist, while Netanyahu called such a coalition 'a disgrace and a shame'. Experts say he would be constrained as caretaker prime minister but could keep significant powers, including the authority to wage war against Iran.

• Likud is the largest single party, but neither main bloc has a majority without Arab parties.
• Exit polls on Tuesday projected up to 18 seats for the Arab bloc, amid record turnout for that bloc.
• Analysts cite new elections as a possible outcome; President Herzog must choose who is tasked with forming a government.
• Israel's Tel Aviv 125 index fell more than 2 percent on Wednesday amid the uncertainty.