With the final count unlikely to shift results significantly, experts say Gadi Eisenkot’s hopes of unseating Benjamin Netanyahu rest on his willingness to work with Palestinian parties

• Full report: Coalition talks loom in Israel

• Analysis: Israel’s choice: Netanyahu remaining in power or a Palestinian-backed coalition

Israel’s ⁠currency, stocks and bonds came under ⁠pressure on Wednesday after initial election ​results showed prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc performing better-than-expected but falling short of a parliamentary majority.

With 91% of votes tallied, Israeli media project Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc could win 53 seats, ahead ⁠of the 48 forecast for rival Gadi Eisenkot’s opposition bloc but short of the 61 needed for a majority.

The next government will probably be fragile.”