When Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for early elections in October, he hoped to emerge with a strengthened popular mandate for another term in office.

To cement a solid victory, he formed a joint ticket, combining parliamentary candidates from his right-leaning Likud party with those of the ultra-nationalist faction Yisrael Beiteinu, led by the former foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman.

Yet on the eve of Tuesday’s election, Netanyahu, widely expected to win another term in office, seems to be limping to the finish line. Not all has gone as expected, and he may end up with a more fractious and hawkish coalition than the one he has led, leaving him less room to maneuver.