Benjamin Netanyahu is fighting for his political survival as the result of Israel's second general election this year is too close to call, according to exit polls.
The polls suggest his lengthy grip on power, which has endured for a decade, could be slipping as he has seemingly not succeeded in his bid for a fifth term in office, the Mirror reports.
With more than 60 per cent of votes counted, Mr Netanyahu's party is on a level with his centre-left challenger, Benny Gantz.
Mr Netanyahu's Likud party won 31 seats, while Mr Gantz's Blue and White coalition has 32. But a prime minister needs to command a 61-seat majority in the Knesset (Parliament).
Each will struggle to form a majority coalition with smaller parties.
Centrist Benny Gantz, his main challenger, said it appeared from the exit polls that Mr Netanyahu had been defeated.
Mr Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving leader having served for three years between 1996 to 1999 and from 2009 onwards.
Mr Gantz, a former armed forces chief, appeared triumphant with confidence as he told a rally of his Blue and White party supporters that it appeared "we fulfilled our mission."
He pledged to work towards the formation of a unity government.
"We will await the actual results," Mr Gantz said in the early hours of Wednesday.
The final election results can take more than a week, but partial results are published as the counting proceeds.
Neither party has enough support for a governing coalition and Netanyahu's ally turned rival, former Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman, could emerge as a kingmaker as head of the Yisrael Beitenu party, which is on the far-right.
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Mr Netanyahu highlighted his close friendship with US President, Donald Trump, during his campaign.
He pledged to annex Jewish settlements and other territory in the occupied West Bank if he was elected.
But he has been warned by Palestinians, who seek a state in the West Bank and Gaze with its capital in occupied East Jerusalem, that this would end any hopes for peace.
Mr Gantz has not advocated for any form of annexation.
