Exit polls from today's Israeli election show Israeli Prime Minister Mr Ariel Sharon'sright-wing Likud party securing a convincing victory, gaining between 32 and 36 of the 120 seats inparliament.
The polls gave Labour between 17 and 19 seats, down from 25, itsworst result since the founding of the Jewish state in 1948.
The secular centrist Shinui was thought to have boosted itsdeputies from six in the last assembly to between 14 and 17 seats,breathing down Labour's neck for the position of second party.
The ultra-Orthodox Shas was set to win between nine and 13seats, according to the two separate exit polls released afterpolling stations closed at 8 p.m. (Irish time).
That is a drop from 17 in the current assembly.
The left-wing Meretz party was expected to win between five andseven seats, down from 10 in the outgoing parliament.
The ultra-nationalist National Union bloc was set to win eightor nine seats, up from its current seven.
Both channels tipped the National Religious Party, themouthpiece of the Jewish settlers in the occupied Palestinianterritories, as winning five seats.
Preliminary results will be announced tomorrow around 1 a.m.(local time) but counting of the bulk of ballot slips willstart at 5 a.m.
The breakdown of the new Knesset should become clear bytomorrow. The final official results will not be known beforeThursday night or Friday morning.
Likud officials said talks to form a workable coalition hadalready started, although Labour leader Mr Amram Mitzna has ruled outjoining a government formed by Mr Sharon, who was first elected aspremier on a tough security pledge in February 2001.
Likud Environment Minister Mr Tzahi Hanegbi told public television:"If there is no alternative, and the Labour Party is stubborn, therewill be a right wing narrow government with over 70 seats."
At just 64 per cent, voter turnout was the lowest in Israel'selectoral history, army radio said.
Mr Michael Cheshin, head of the central election committee, toldthe radio the lacklustre turnout was due to an electorate that was"confused, in despair, disappointed in what is happening inpolitics, and going for the lesser evil rather than for theirpreference.
"This is a situation unlike any I remember. When people are in astate of disgust with the government, that is the result."