REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, TEL AVIV -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looked set for victory Wednesday as the preliminary vote count put his Likud party well ahead of its nearest rivals in a result likely to further strain relations with the Palestinians.

With around 70 percent of votes counted, Likud was leading with 23.73 percent, the Central Elections Committee said, with the centre-left Zionist Union trailing on 19.06 percent.

Netanyahu had already claimed victory in Tuesday's election and the initial results seemed to ensure him a third straight term.

Exit polls published on two TV stations had given Likud and Zionist Union 27 seats each in the 120-member parliament. A third poll gave Likud a one-seat lead.

Netanyahu had put security at the forefront of his campaign, arguing he is the only one capable of protecting Israel from an Iranian nuclear threat and vowing never to allow the Palestinians to establish a capital in east Jerusalem.

The Palestinians vowed to step up their diplomatic campaign for statehood.

"It is clear that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will form the next government, so we say clearly that we will go to the International Criminal Court in the Hague and we will speed up, pursue and intensify" all diplomatic efforts, chief negotiator Saeb Erakat told AFP.

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