Israel election yields no clear winner; Iran and Gaza policy seen unchanged

Israel's election has produced no clear majority, with exit polls showing neither Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc nor Gadi Eisenkot's alliance reaching the 61 Knesset seats needed. Both men oppose a Palestinian state, want Hamas disarmed and favour a hard line on Iran, so Israel's confrontation with Tehran and its proxies is unlikely to ease whoever forms a government. The result suggests Israel's course toward continued regional conflict, and its dependence on US backing, will hold steady through the coalition talks.