The votes from Israel's third election in less than 12 months were counted and results showed Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party did not sweep the count with an overwhelming victory as it was announced when exit polls were revealed.

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Political deadlock persists after third Israeli election 

A make it or break it moment for Netanyahu

The right wing Likud scored 36 seats – four more than what the party claimed in the previous round of elections held in September. Rival Benny Gantz's Blue & White got 33 seats – the same number the centrist party claimed last time.

What does it all mean? 

In order to form a government, a party needs a 61-seat majority in the 120-seat parliament or Knesset. Neither party has that edge.  

Likud's potential coalition partners consisting of right wing and religious parties bring the party's tally to 58 – three seats shy of a majority.  

The biggest surge in this round went to the Joint List of Arab parties with an unprecedented gain of 15 seats.

The next stage 

Government formation has been deadlocked for a year because neither front-runner has been able to form a coalition.  

For the most part, clashing party demands for joining a government coalition stand in the way. This round appears to be headed in the same direction but analysts say it has the potential to be different.  

Avigdor Lieberman, head of the nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party with seven seats in this election round, split from Likud saying he'll block Netanyahu from serving a record fifth term as prime minister by backing Benny Gantz to form the next government.  

That means Lieberman might join a shaky coalition consisting of Blue/White, his party and the Arab-led Joint List party to form an unstable union likely to fall apart but almost certain to block Netanyahu/the Likud party.   

The imminent Netanyahu trial 

Shadowing this election round is Netanyahu's indictment on corruption charges and his trial set to start on March 17.

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Israel's third vote: Deja vu all over again?

Gantz's Blue & White party proposed legal bills meant to block an indicted figure, like Benjamin Netanyahu, from forming a government and impose a two-term limit on Israel's prime ministers. Lieberman and Joint List party members back the bills. 

There are no laws in place in Israel governing an indicted prime minister (on trial) serving in office or an on-trial official forming a government.