Both candidates declared victory, but Israel's election is too close to call

Although both incumbent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main challenger, former Israeli military chief Benny Gantz, who is considered a centrist, declared victory following Israel's national elections on Tuesday, exit polls are actually showing that the two men are in a virtual tie.

Per The New York Times, two of Israel's three main television channels projected that Gantz's party was ahead, while the third showed the two in a draw.

But, most crucially, it is clear that neither candidate is currently in position to form a ruling coalition among the country's right- and left-wing blocs, though Haaretz reports that the numbers do favor a right-wing coalition, which would likely keep Netanyahu in power. Netanyahu, for his part, has already vowed to begin putting together a government.

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The results may become clearer in the coming hours, the Times reports, or it could be decided later in the week after the votes of soldiers, prisoners, and hospital patients are factored in.