Netanyahu bloc in the lead but short of majority

JERUSALEM, Undefined (AFP)—Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's camp finished ahead of the opposition but remained well short of a parliamentary majority, according to final results from Israel's general election released early Friday.

Netanyahu's coalition of right-wing and far-right parties won 53 of the Knesset's 120 seats, with his Likud party remaining the largest single faction with 27 seats. The opposition bloc, led by centrist Gadi Eisenkot secured 48 seats.

The results from the Central Elections Committee also showed Arab parties -- the Raam and the Joint List -- securing 19 seats, positioning themselves as possible kingmakers.