Exit polls show Ra'am, Hadash-Ta'al crossing electoral threshold and Balad on the cusp as some voice fear over Religious Zionism's strong showing

Netanyahu calls surveys 'a good start' as Religious Zionism's Smotrich hails 'historic' win, while Yesh Atid calls for patience and Ayelet Shaked concedes

Lapid says election hangs on a thread, Likud and allies claim leftist strongholds seeing long lines, and several parties warn they're falling below threshold as voting nears end

With fate hinging on Arab turnout, leader of hardline anti-Zionist party confident he will return to Knesset as other Arab voters in Jaffa seek 'change' by sticking with Lapid

Party leaders cast their ballots and encourage citizens to do the same before voting ends at 10 p.m.; Beit Shemesh polling station attacked by extremists

Even generous forecasts cap neglected minority's turnout at 50%, but Balad's breakaway from Hadash-Ta'al offers those who refuse to cooperate with government a new political home

5 Palestinian gunmen killed in raid, including Lion's Den terror leader; 6th killed in clash near Ramallah; Gantz: 'No sanctuary cities for terrorists'; general strike in Nablus

Justices also hear appeal on disqualification of Amichai Chikli, as well as of the Balad party

Arab nationalist faction accuses Defense Minister Gantz and Prime Minister Lapid of 'engineering' ploy designed to shape political map

Opposition chief claims PM will give Palestinians 'a terrorist state in the heart of the country'; premier's left-wing partners, US hail his backing of two-state solution