Benjamin Netanyahu voted back to power in Israel

Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, who has served as the country's prime minister longer than anyone else has pulled off an astonishing comeback in Israel's fifth election in less than four years as his right-wing bloc secured a 64-seat majority.

Despite his trial on corruption charges, which he denies, Bibi, as he is known, has the loyal support of his party's grassroots that propelled his return to power.

Netayahu's Likud and its allies failed to win a majority in four previous votes and, for the first time since 2009, Netanyahu did not run as the incumbent in Tuesday's election.

Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid conceded defeat in the general elections on Thursay and said that he had called Netanyahu and congratulated him on his victory.

Lapid, who has served as interim prime minister for the past four months, further added that he's instructed all departments of the Prime Minister's Office to prepare for an orderly transfer of power.

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"The State of Israel is above any political consideration," Lapid said in a tweet. "I wish Netanyahu luck for the sake of the people of Israel and the State of Israel."

Israelis voted on Tuesday for an unprecedented fifth time in four years to break the political impasse that has paralysed the Jewish nation.

(with PTI and AFP inputs)