Benjamin Netanyahu and allies unlikely to win majority in Israel election

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu drinks water (Ariel Schalit/AP)

Incumbent prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s prospects for victory in Israel’s latest election appeared to move out of reach, as the nearly-complete vote count showed him and his right-wing allies falling short of a parliamentary majority.

With 99.5% of the votes counted, Israel’s election commission showed both Mr Netanyahu’s allies and those determined to topple him without a clear path to forming a government.