Israel election – live: Benjamin Netanyahu told ‘maybe time has come to say goodbye’ after hard-right coalition fails to win majority

Benjamin Netanyahu was battling for political survival after exit polls showed his party had fallen short of security a parliamentary majority in Israel‘s unprecedented repeat election.

The election’s apparent kingmaker, Avigdor Lieberman, said he will insist upon a secular unity government between the prime minister’s Likud party and Benny Gantz‘s Blue and White party.

Based on partial results Likud is currently one seat Blue and White's tally of 32 seats out of the 120 in parliament. Mr Gantz’s party has previously ruled out a coalition with Likud while Mr Netanyahu remains leader.

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