Israel Prime Minister Netanyahu Declares Victory

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared victory in Tuesday's close national elections.

Netanyahu, leader of the conservative Likud Party, made the announcement on Twitter. "Against all odds: a great victory for the Likud. A major victory for the people of Israel!" he wrote in Hebrew.

Exit polls had showed Likud in a dead heat with the center-left Zionist Union. But the results indicated that Netanyahu will have an easier time forming a government with support from hard-line and religious allies, according to The Associated Press.

Netanyahu said he had already begun to call potential partners, the AP said.

Two exit polls showed Likud and Zionist Union with 27 seats each in the 120-member Knesset, while a third poll gave Likud a 28-27 lead.

That leaves leaders of smaller parties with the power to influence who becomes the next prime minister. In such situations, the smaller party leaders do deals to throw support behind one of the top candidates. A leader needs 61 parliamentary seats to form a government.

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— Jon Schuppe, with The Associated Press