"BIBI STAYS" � says Drudge...

... pointing to The Times of Israel, which has this headline: "Netanyahu declares victory, but Herzog in no hurry to concede/Likud ahead or level with Zionist Union in all 3 exit polls, better placed to build coalition; 71.8% turnout highest since 1999; delight in Likud, dismay in Zionist Union; Jewish Home slips" � and says "TV exit polls Tuesday night showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Likud set to retain the Israeli leadership at the end of a bitter election campaign.... Unlike years past, analysts had said the race between Likud and Zionist Union, the two leading factions, was too close to call with confidence, but the exit polls showed Netanyahu clearly better placed to build the next coalition."

The BBC seems more circumspect: "Israel election: No clear winner, exit polls suggest." Ditto the NYT: "In Israel, Race Between Netanyahu and Herzog Appears Too Close to Call." But the NYT has this clarification:

If the major parties remain tied or within a single seat once all the votes are counted, a critical factor will be the so-called blocs � right-wing parties expected to back Mr. Netanyahu, and left-leaning ones that favor Mr. Herzog. But those tallies remained unclear Tuesday evening.

UPDATE: NYT: "Netanyahu Soundly Defeats Chief Rival in Israeli Elections."