Benjamin Netanyahu has defied his critics again

With 97 per cent of votes counted, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks poised to secure a remarkable record fifth term.

Pundits had said Israel’s election was too close to call, and in many ways it was. Both Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party and its main rival, the centrist Blue and White alliance look set to gain 35 seats in the 120 seat Israeli parliament, the Knesset. But Netanyahu has a much better chance of forming a coalition with the smaller right wing and religious parties.

Nothing is decided for sure yet. Most of the remaining three per cent of the votes are those of soldiers and diplomats who don’t live in their home voting districts. These will take until this afternoon to count and could still influence which of those smaller parties hovering around the threshold of 3.25 per cent under Israel’s proportional representation electoral system make it into the Knesset. Nevertheless it is likely that these votes will lean right and only further boost Netanyahu’s chances of forming a government.