Morning update

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc and the opposition bloc are both projected to fall short of a parliamentary majority of 61 seats following a surge in voting by Palestinian citizens of Israel.

Over 66 percent of ballot boxes in Israel have been counted as of 9.20am local time (7.20 GMT), with partial results published by the Central Elections Committee showing Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc leading by 56 seats. However, the Israeli prime minister still falls short of the 61 seats required for majority vote. Following after him is 48 seats to the bloc led by Yashar’s Gadi Eisenkot, and Palestinian-led parties at 16 seats.

Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of “lying and inciting” against his party, accusing him of using allegations of election fraud to mobilise right-wing voters. In a video message filmed in Sakhnin on Tuesday, Abbas urged Palestinian citizens of Israel to turn out and vote for the United Arab List, also known as Ra’am.

US President Donald Trump has claimed that his endorsement reversed Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's possible "defeat". "When President Trump endorsed Bibi Netanyahu, the whole tide turned, and now, rather than a decisive defeat for a Great Prime Minister, it looks like a big come-from-behind stalemate, or even a WIN for Netanyahu," he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.

Israeli opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday against using Israel’s security for political gain, as exit polls showed a deadlock in the country’s national election. "Netanyahu, don’t you dare use Israel’s security for your political needs," he said.