Israel's president has begun meetings with the main political parties on who should form a government following the general election.
After hearing recommendations, Moshe Katsav will name a leader to put together the next ruling coalition.
Interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, whose Kadima party won most votes, is widely expected to get the job.
Voter turnout in Tuesday's election was a record low and no party won an outright majority.
The president, whose role is largely ceremonial, says he will try to choose the next prime minister quickly, but talks are likely to last several days.
Although informal contacts on building a coalition got under way straight after the election, formal talks will not begin until Mr Katsav makes his decision.
Differences
The new Kadima party - led by Ehud Olmert since its founder Ariel Sharon fell into a coma - won 29 seats out of 120.
The BBC's Matthew Price says Mr Olmert is widely felt to be best placed to form the next government.
The centre-left Labour party came second with 20 seats and has put forward its leader, Amir Peretz, on an agenda of social issues.
However, differences have already emerged between the two main parties over who will lead the Finance Ministry.
Kadima's failure to win as many seats as it had hoped could have implications in policy making, and if Mr Olmert is to lead the next government, he will need to build the strongest coalition possible, our correspondent says.
The new government is not likely to be formed for another three weeks.
FINAL RESULTS
Winning party:
1. Kadima: 29 seats, centrist
Probable partner:
2. Labour: 20 seats, centre-left
Possible partners:
3. Shas: 12 seats, ultra-Orthodox
4. Pensioners: 7 seats, single-issue
5. Torah Judaism: 6 seats, ultra-Orthodox
6. Meretz: 5 seats, left-wing
Unlikely partners:
7. Israel Beitenu: 11 seats, Russian emigres, far-right
8. Likud: 12 seats, right-wing
9. Arab parties: 9 seats
10. National Union/Religious: 9 seats, far-right, settlers