According to the exit polls, the Likud-Beitenu alliance would now get 31, and Habayit Hayehudi 12.

BBC: Israel election: Netanyahu setback as Lapid surges

Likud-Beitenu's dominance on the right has been challenged by Habayit Hayehudi, led by millionaire businessman Naftali Bennett - Mr Netanyahu's former chief-of-staff.

BBC: Israel election: Netanyahu setback as Lapid surges

His party, Habayit Hayehudi (the Jewish Home), represents the merger and reinvigoration of two older religious parties, and it is rapidly gaining ground.

NEWYORKER: The Party Faithful

Polls suggest that Mr Netanyahu's Likud-Beitenu alliance will win but with a reduced majority, having lost ground to a new party Habayit Hayehudi.

BBC: Israel election: High turnout as Netanyahu eyes victory

The nationalist group Habayit Hayehudi (Jewish Home) got 12, but the new centrist party Yesh Atid (There is a Future) came second with 19 seats.

BBC: Benjamin Netanyahu asked to form Israeli government

Mr Netanyahu is now widely expected to seek an alliance with a new nationalist party, Habayit Hayehudi (Jewish Home), which is projected to have 12 seats.

BBC: Middle East

Its sister party, Habayit Hayehudi won three mandates.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Israel's balance of delusion

Mr Bennett, head of the ultra-nationalist religious-Zionist Habayit Hayehudi (Jewish Home) party, represents a political approach more hawkish than Mr Netanyahu's, yet he radiates an all-Israeli quality that has appealed to even traditional centrist and moderate voters.

BBC: Campaigns struggle to impress as Israeli elections loom

On Thursday, he joined hands with Habayit Hayehudi chairman MK Daniel Herschkowitz and announced that neither of the two parties would join Netanyahu's government if he doesn't meet all of their demands, including the Ministry of Education for Herschkowitz.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Israel's balance of delusion