Israel election results live: count of absentee ballots under way as coalition talks set to begin

With the final count unlikely to shift results significantly, experts say Gadi Eisenkot’s hopes of unseating Benjamin Netanyahu rest on his willingness to work with Palestinian parties

• Full report: Coalition talks loom in Israel

• Analysis: Israel’s choice: Netanyahu remaining in power or a Palestinian-backed coalition

Israel’s ⁠currency, stocks and bonds came under ⁠pressure on Wednesday after initial election ​results showed prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc performing better-than-expected but falling short of a parliamentary majority.

With 91% of votes tallied, Israeli media project Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc could win 53 seats, ahead ⁠of the 48 forecast for rival Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc but short of the 61 needed for a majority.

The next government will probably be fragile.”