Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is projected to win another term by a narrow victory, according to exit polls on Tuesday, dealing a blow to his hardline coalition.

Benjamin Netanyahu was re-elected by the narrowest of margins on Tuesday. (Photograph: BBC) Israeli television's Channel 2 announced the results Tuesday evening, noting, "Big surprises."

Barak Ravid, a diplomatic correspondent for Haaretz, tweeted just after 3 p.m. EST, "Netanyahu will be the next PM but a weak and diminished one with an unstable coalition."

Worried that they might not retain their lead, Netanyahu's Likud Beiteinu party recruited voters to the polls throughout the day Tuesday, Haaretz reported.

Eighty-five percent of the ballots will be counted overnight, with the rest to be counted on Wednesday.

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