JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israel's two largest parties each claimed a mandate early Wednesday after exit polls showed a surprise first-place finish by the ruling Kadima party and dramatic gains by its conservative rivals. Kadima's Tzipi Livni won more support than was predicted in the Israeli elections. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni's failure to assemble a ruling coalition for Kadima last year triggered Tuesday's elections. But she told supporters after the vote that the narrow edge Kadima appears to have held over the conservative Likud shows her party is "the common denominator of Israeli society." Livni called on Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu "to respect the choice of Israel's citizens ... and to join a unity government, led by us, that will be based on the large parties in Israel, left and right."
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NEW: Unofficial results show right-wing party overtaking founding party
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Polls shows Kadima is "common denominator of Israeli society," Livni says
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Netanyahu's Likud party doubles seats in Knesset, according to polls
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Analysts warn that Israeli exits polls have been wrong before
Tzipi Livni
Tzipi Livni
Livni
Livni
"The clear-cut winner, in the sense that she did much better than any expectations, is @placeholder and Kadima.
Kadima
Kadima
Kadima
Kadima
Kadima
"The clear-cut winner, in the sense that she did much better than any expectations, is Tzipi Livni and @placeholder.
Kadima
Kadima
Kadima
Kadima
Kadima
According to Israeli media, with all precincts reporting, @placeholder was on track to win 28 seats in the 120-member Knesset, the same as it currently holds.
Likud
Likud
Likud
Neither @placeholder nor Kadima is expected to reach even half that figure.
Kadima
Kadima
Kadima
Kadima
Kadima
Neither Likud nor @placeholder is expected to reach even half that figure.