No absolute winner in Israel as a closely watched general election is too close to call.

Early exit polls showed both contenders Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz ahead at different points.

Now Netanyahu seems to have a tight lead and media in Israel say he has the best chance of forming a government, and keeping his job.

CGTN’s Stephanie Freid reports.

Triumphant cheers and emotional displays as the first exit polls went public, both leading parties claimed a win.

Now it’s up to the leading party leaders to negotiate building the 61 parliament seat majority needed to form a government with potential coalition partners.

After four terms of a right-wing government led by Benjamin Netanyahu, it appears many Israeli voters wanted change.

Official numbers will also determine which of the smaller parties were eliminated in the vote and which may be potential coalition partners.

Nicolai Due-Gundersen discusses the Israeli elections

CGTN’s Asieh Namdar spoke to Nicolai Due-Gundersen, a political analyst at Kingston University and former adviser to the Arab Institute for Security Studies, about the key issues in the Israeli elections.

Winner of Israel’s election unlikely to change course of foreign policy

Despite presenting themselves as constrasting candidates, Netanyahu and Gantz don’t differ much on foreign poilcy. CGTN’s Gerlad Tan reports.

Matthew Brodsky discusses possible outcomes for the Israel election

CGTN’s Elaine Reyes spoke to Matthew Brodsky about what lies ahead for both main candidates in the Israel election. Brodsky is a Middle East expert and a senior fellow at the Security Studies Group in Washington, D.C.