Special Coverage

U.S. president makes congratulatory statement while speaking to reporters. "He’s been a great ally and he’s a friend; I’d like to congratulate him on a well-thought-out race," Trump says.

With some 95% of the votes counted, right-wing bloc holds a large lead over the Left • New Right, Moshe Feiglin's Zehut party fail to pass minimum threshold • Arab parties win nine total seats, fewer than in 20th Knesset • Haredi parties hold strong.

With some 95% of the vote in, the historic Labor party under Chairman Avi Gabbay won only six seats, an all-time low • In 2013, Labor won 15 seats • MK Eitan Cabel: Labor's failure is down to Gabbay and Gabbay alone.

Both the Right and the Left dealt plenty of low blows in this election campaign but now it's time for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to remember how close he came to losing and abandon his policy of attacks.

"Israelis have voted to preserve the status quo. They have said no to peace and yes to the occupation," says chief Palestinian Authority negotiator Saeb Erekat, after exit polls after exit polls show left-wing parties suffering major losses in national election.

As of 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, only 20% of eligible Arab voters had cast ballots • Hadash-Ta'al reports that number jumped to 44% by the time the polls closed.

With more than 3.4 million ballots counted as of early Wednesday morning in Israel, Likud had 27% of the votes, ahead of Blue and White at 25.9%. "This is an unimaginable achievement," Netanyahu told jubilant supporters at Likud Party headquarters in Tel Aviv.

New Right party says Netanyahu's intense media campaign to rally right-wing voters behind Likud dealt New Right potentially fatal blow

Blue and White leader says he got mandate to form government, but analysts see this a long shot. Netanyahu claims Right can form new government because of "clear victory."

i24NEWS will air the real election results right here