The leaders of Israel's two main parties have claimed victory in one of the closest election races in recent years.
With almost all the votes counted, the ruling Kadima party has 28 seats followed by the the right-wing Likud opposition with 27. But analysts say its unlikely that Kadima's Tzipi Livni will become Israel's first woman leader since Golda Meir after polls showed there would be a right-wing majority in the next parliament that could instead rally behind the leadership of the Likud leader and former Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Helen Long reports.
