Netanyahu moves to form coalition government after resounding re-election

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday vowed to swiftly form a new coalition government after his Likud Party won a decisive upset victory in Tuesday's elections.

"Our country's everyday reality doesn't give us the luxury for delay," Netanyahu said in a statement.

With almost all of the vote tallied, Likud appeared to win 30 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, while the center-left Zionist Union, led by Netanyahu's chief rival Isaac Herzog, claimed 24 seats. Netanyahu, who made a hard right turn as his support sagged in the election's closing days, is expected to align with right-wing and Orthodox parties.

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