Israel is today expected to announce the final results of its gridlocked election after tallying soldiers' votes that could tip the balance in the ongoing battle to lead the country.
More than 150,000 ballots, cast mainly in military camps, as well as in prisons and Israeli diplomat missions, are still in play after Tuesday's national poll.
Political analysts have noted a shift to the right by troops in past voting, a trend they said could help the Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu in his competing claim against Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni of Kadima for the premiership.
Votes counted in civilian polling stations gave Kadima 28 seats to Likud's 27, a margin that could change after the remaining military ballots are added to the equation.
Mr Netanyahu said a strong rightist bloc elected to parliament meant he should be prime minister. Ms Livni cited Kadima's lead in saying the post should be hers.
It is up to President Shimon Peres, after consultations with party leaders, to decide whether to tap Mr Netanyahu (59) a former prime minister, or Ms Livni (50) Israel's chief peace negotiator with the Palestinians, to try to form a government.
If Mr Netanyahu catches up to Ms Livni after the remaining votes are counted, Mr Peres would likely have no choice but to assign him the task, political commentators said.
A spokesman for the Israel Elections Committee said the final count would be announced at a news conference later today.
The election results become official on February 18 when they are published in the government gazette. Mr Peres would then have a week to make his nomination, and the candidate he chooses, 42 days to attempt to form a government.
As political parties began negotiating possible pacts yesterday, Israeli media said it seemed Mr Peres would have no choice but to pick Mr Netanyahu if majority rightists all back him. But it would be the first time in Israel's 60-year history that the winner of an election would be passed over.
Avigdor Lieberman's far-right Yisrael Beiteinu party, which surged to third place in the ballot with its demand to test the loyalties of Israeli Arabs, emerged as a potential kingmaker.
He met Ms Livni and Mr Netanyahu yesterday, appearing to favour the latter though he deferred any decision. Another linchpin party, the conservative Shas, held it own talks with Likud.
Reuters