Benjamin Netanyahu declares victory in Israeli elections

Benjamin Netanyahu has declared victory in Israel's elections after exit polls suggested the two main parties were neck and neck.

Netanyahu, who is seeking his fourth term as prime minister, said on Twitter that his Likud Party and the nationalist camp had "against all odds" secured a "great victory".

Initial exit polls showed Likud deadlocked with the centre-left Zionist Union led by Isaac Herzog.

But the results indicated that Mr Netanyahu will have an easier time cobbling together a majority coalition with hard-line and religious allies.

Mr Netanyahu said he had already begun to call potential partners.

Exit polls conducted by the country's three major TV stations gave mixed results.

Two polls showed the parties deadlocked with 27 seats each, and a third gave Likud a slight lead of 28-27.

All showed the centrist newcomer Moshe Kahlon with enough seats to determine who will be the next prime minister.

Netanyahu, 65, who has had two spells as prime minister and first took office in 1996, could become the country's longest-serving leader.

He reiterated his opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state on the eve of the election.

Ahead of the vote, opinion polls suggested his centre-left opponents Zionist Union could win the election.