Opposition leader Benjamin 'BB' Netanyahu's Likud Party emerged victorious in this week's general election, giving the former Israeli prime minister another shot to lead the small middle eastern nation.
Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid has reportedly called to congratulate Netanyahu. "The state of Israel comes before any political consideration," he said in a statement. "I wish Netanyahu success, for the sake of the people of Israel and the State of Israel." The PM said he has instructed his office to make arrangements for the transition of power.
Lapid has been serving as caretaker prime minister since June, when previous Prime Minister Naftali Bennett lost his majority and the government dissolved.
Israel’s fractious and fragmented parliamentary system means that no single political party can win an election outright. In order to form a ruling coalition, Netanyahu needs 61 out of a possible 120 seats in Israel's parliament, the Knesset.
A group of right-wing and religious parties that have committed to supporting Netanyahu’s leadership bid, could collectively garner the requisite number of seats to form the next government.
This will be Netanyahu's third stint as prime minister. The American-educated 73-year-old, first served from 1996 to 1999, and then again from 2009 to 2021. BB, as he's fondly called by admirers, is a decorated military veteran, and is popular among conservatives in many western nations.
World leaders including Hungarian, Italian and Indian prime ministers Viktor Orban, Giorgia Meloni and Narendra Modi respectively, congratulated Netanyahu in statements on social media.
Popular United States Republican senator Ted Cruz(R-Texas) also congratulated BB, tweeting: "Congratulations to the people of Israel on a robust high turnout election and clear choice of @Netanyahu to form a government."
US Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides who called Netanyahu earlier, tweeted: "I congratulated him on his victory and told him I look forward to working together to maintain the unbreakable bond [between Israel and the US]."