Exit polls in Israel's election suggest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and the Zionist Union are neck-and-neck
Two polls project the parties have 27 seats each, while a third says Likud has one more seat than its rival, led by Yitzhak Herzog
Mr Netanyahu hails the outcome as a "great victory" for Likud, but Mr Herzog insists "everything is open"
Both would need the support of other parties in the 120-seat Knesset to form a coalition government
The exit polls suggest that the Joint List, an alliance of Arab-Israeli parties, has come third (All times in GMT)
Kevin Connolly
BBC News, Tel Aviv
People are celebrating at the Likud party's headquarters. It doesn't mean Mr Netanyahu has won a crushing victory. People are relieved that it is much, much better than, at one point, it looked as though it was going to be.
Channel One's exit poll says the Zionist Union is tied with Likud, with both expected to win 27 seats.
Numbers from the exit polls are coming in now. Israel's Channel 10 says Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud and Yitzhak Herzog's Zionist Union are tied with 27 seats each. Channel Two, meanwhile, say Likud is on 28 and the Zionist Union on 27.
Exit polls will be published by Israel's three main television channels after voting ends in two minutes.
In the last day, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has gained an unexpected ally in his bid to gain a fourth term: Hollywood star Chuck Norris, external. Norris, who has made three films in Israel, called Mr Netanyahu "a man who loves his country with all his heart and soul" in a video posted on his YouTube page. We'll soon find out whether his appeal has helped make Mr Netanyahu Israel's Top Dog, external.
One group worth looking out for is the Arab Joint List, an alliance of four Arab-backed parties headed by Ayman Odeh. There are indications they could get as many as 13 seats in parliament, making them the third largest group there. And, in the last hour, Mr Odeh has been making positive noises.
Image source, ReutersIt's not just Israeli election day, of course. It's Saint Patrick's Day as well. So could we be looking at an "almost Irish" winner in Israel? At least, that's what the Journal newspaper in Ireland is asking, external. Yitzhak Herzog's father, Chaim, a former president of Israel, was born in Belfast and raised in Dublin. Chaim Herzog's father was the first Chief Rabbi of Ireland and was a fluent Gaelic speaker.
Do you want a quick taste of what's at stake in the Israeli election? Here is a look at some of the main numbers - in only 60 seconds.
Michael Shuval
Producer, BBC Arabic
tweets, external: Former deputy MoD @dannydanon first Likud MK to arrive at party's headquarters. Sources say he has reason to smile.
Image source, Michael Shuval
Yolande Knell
BBC News, Tel Aviv
tweets, external: Activists gathering at Zionist Union HQ in Tel Aviv. Hopes are high they will win most seats but the race is tight.
Image source, Yolande KnellWhen the dust finally settles, many parties will find themselves with seats in the Knesset. We've prepared a guide to their leaders - you'll be hearing many of these names again throughout the night.
Mr Netanyahu's main challenge is from Yitzhak Herzog, the leader of the centre-left Zionist Union. The last polls published before the elections put his Labour-Hatnua alliance narrowly ahead of the prime minister's Likud party. We'll find out soon whether that lead remains.
Image source, EPASo what can we expect tonight? Well, the real work is likely to start after the results come in. No party has ever won an outright majority in Israel's 120-seat parliament, the Knesset, so a coalition will almost certainly be needed. If that's the case again tonight, Israel's president will pick the party he feels has the best chance of forming a government. The leader of that party then has six weeks to do so.
Image source, AFPVoting ends in 30 minutes, and we're expecting the first exit polls soon after that. All the indications point towards the result being close - will Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu be able to with a fourth term in office?
Image source, AFPGood evening and welcome to our live coverage of Israel's general election. We will be bringing you the latest news, insights from BBC correspondents, some of your emails and Twitter, and the best of the blogs, TV and press.