Elections in Israel always generate much excitement domestically and internationally. However, they hardly produce conclusive results of a clear winner in terms of policies and leadership. No single party has won an absolute majority since the country was founded more than 64 years ago. Tuesday's election leaves Israeli politically more divided than ever: the ruling party Likud-Beitenu and its leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and Avigdor Lieberman are injured and badly bruised, but not knocked out. The party lost around a quarter of their combined seats in the Israeli Knesset. Nevertheless, in the mysterious ways that Israeli politics operate, Netanyahu is still best positioned to form the next government, but just barely and without absolute certainty.
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Election result leaves Israel more divided than ever
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Benjamin Netanyahu can look left or right for coalition partners
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His group lost votes to more right-wing parties and a center-left bloc
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Whoever rules, it is not clear they'll be able to provide answers to Israel's pressing problems
Following the counting of nearly all the ballots it became clear that @placeholder's gamble on a joint list with former Foreign Minister Lieberman didn't pay off.