With Meretz and Balad failing to cross the electoral threshold, some 289,000 votes were wasted by anti-Netanyahu parties, smoothing the right-wing religious camp's path to victory

Alternate PM caps off tumultuous political career, hailing achievements of his government; agrees with outgoing PM Lapid that no sensitive decisions be made in transition period

After final vote tally announced, Likud leader to control a 64-seat bloc despite narrow lead in overall vote count, as both Meretz and Balad drop below electoral threshold

As Netanyahu returns, it is his primarily male, religious and nationalist partners who will set the new government's tenor; could they give the left a fresh flag to rally around?

PM reportedly tells ministers to prepare for transition of power; Netanyahu tasks Levin with coalition negotiations; Shas leader Deri may become finance minister, report says

Former prime minister said planning swift negotiations with partners to quickly oust Lapid, who has reportedly yet to speak with partners amid widespread anger over poor showing

Iranians thought to have been unaware Israeli landed in Shiraz on flight from Uzbekistan to UAE; Mossad contacted her while on the ground, instructed her to conceal her identity

Prime Minister's Office says President Herzog will represent Israel instead at the COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh next week

Partial results give Likud leader's bloc 65 seats, with far-right set to gain unprecedented power; however, vote landscape can change if Meretz, Balad cross threshold

In apparent attempt at conciliatory message, UTJ's Pindrus says current government treated ultra-Orthodox 'cruelly,' but 'we won’t harass you' if right-religious bloc regains power