Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was hoping for a decisive victory in yesterday’s election, but he did not get it. After the fourth election in just two years, Israeli society is as divided as ever. In the likely final results, Netanyahu will be two seats short of forming a homogeneous right-ultra-Orthodox coalition. Together with his religious and ultra-Orthodox partners, the Likud can only assemble a 59-Knesset seat bloc.

His opponents on the center-left have no way to form a government either. If nothing major changes when the final vote count is over (expected on Friday morning, March 26), and assuming that none of the opposition parties break their promise not to join a Netanyahu coalition, Israel is headed for yet another election, its fifth in under two and half years. Netanyahu will remain in power until then, but he will be on shaky ground.

Nothing drastic will happen right away. Attempts will be made to form a workable government before a new election is called. There will be coalition wheeling and dealing, but it's clear to everyone involved that neither side can form a government.

In practical terms, a divided transition government with Blue and White chair Benny Gantz will continue to run the country for the next few months as Israel plunges into another election round.