The Israeli political system presently revolves around three blocs jockeying for position after the election failed to provide a decisive outcome.

Based on the latest figures – which are likely to change as absentee ballots and army votes are counted – the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, currently leads a coalition based around his own party, Likud, which will have 26 seats in the new parliament, or Knesset.

Read more: Israel election by the numbers: who might form the next government?

Likud is joined by Shas, United Torah Judaism (UTJ) and Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power), each of which has seven seats and the Religious Zionist Party, which has six. This gives him control of 53 seats, short of the 61 seats needed to form a majority government.

His leading opponent, Gadi Eisenkot, leads a “change” coalition centred on his Yashar! (Truthful) party, which has 21 seats. Yashar! is joined by Together, with 13 seats, the Democrats with eight, and Yisrael Beiteinu (Our Home or IOH) with seven. This adds up to 48 seats.

A third bloc includes the two Arab minority parties: the Joint List with 11 seats and Ra'am with eight, making 19 seats in the new Knesset – more than Arab parties have ever won before. Both of the Arab parties oppose Netanyahu, but they have been rejected as possible partners in a coalition by some members of Eisenkot’s change bloc.

This was an extraordinary election: it was held under ideal conditions for Israel’s anti-Netanyahu change coalition. Tens of thousands of Israelis flew home to vote, mostly against Netanyahu.

Israel’s Arab minority was also motivated, with turnout estimated at nearly 80%. This was largely in response to the........

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