Right-wing allies poised to propel Netanyahu to power

From the ashes: leader-elect Benjamin Netanyahu and wife Sara cast their votes

- EMILY ATKINSON and ALASTAIR JAMIESON

Benjamin Netanyahu and right-wing allies may have won enough seats to return to power in a nationalist and religious government in Israel, early exit poll results suggested last night.

Israelis voted in the country's fifth election in less than four years, hoping to break the political deadlock which has paralysed the country.

Polls by three major Israeli TV stations indicated that ex-PM Netanyahu and his allies would capture the 61-seat majority in parliament required to form a new government, but the result was on a knife edge.

His main rival is the man who helped oust him from power last year, centrist caretaker prime minister Yair Lapid.

"Vote for the state of Israel, and for the future of our children," Mr Lapid said after casting his ballot in the Tel Aviv neighbourhood where he lives.

Election officials said that by 4pm local time, turnout stood at 47.5 per cent, the highest at that time since 1999.

With another stalemate looming, attention has largely turned to who Mr Netanyanhu might be able to form a coalition with and a powerful new player is threatening to shake things up as a potential coalition kingmaker.