Netanyahu poised to return to power as Israeli Prime Minister as exit polls point to a narrow majority for his bloc

The polls are preliminary and – with such a wafer-thin majority expected – results could change as votes are counted in the coming hours.

The campaign was shaken up by far-right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir – with his ultra-nationalist Religious Zionism poised to be the third-largest party in parliament after surging in from the political margins.

The election was Israel’s fifth in less than four years, with the country gripped by political gridlock.

Voter turnout was reported to be at the highest levels since 1999.

Mr Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving premier, is on trial over corruption charges. He denies the charges.