With close to 99 percent of the votes counted, it is clear that the hardline veteran politician Netanyahu will regain power in Israel.
Even before it was clear, media reports in the country stated that he had started government probes.
When just over 90 percent of the votes were counted, Netanyahu and his supporting parties had about 65 seats out of the Knesset's 120 seats, and those numbers tentatively look to hold.
"Prime Minister Yair Lapid has congratulated opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu on his election victory, and informed him that he (Lapid) has instructed his entire office to prepare for a handover," Lapid's press secretary wrote in a statement.
Ultranationalists take over
At Netanyahu's side are both ultra-nationalist and ultra-religious parties that are ready to support him as prime minister.
Decisive is the political bloc led by the ultra-nationalist Itamar Ben-Gvir, who achieved unexpectedly great success in the election.
Among other parties that are prepared to support Netanyahu's alliance are the ultra-religious parties Shas and UTJ.
Even before government negotiations have really begun, the Jerusalem Post newspaper is drastic in its analysis:
"For Netanyahu, Shas and UTJ are dreamlike coalition partners.
Itamar Ben-Gvir is an Israeli diplomatic nightmare," writes the newspaper.
But Ben-Gvir will gain influence.
But 14 seats in the Knesset, according to preliminary calculations, he becomes a significant power factor.
Victorious party leader
Party leader Ben-Gvir was confident of victory:
"The time for a full-fledged right-wing government has come.
The time has come to be the ruler of the house in our own country," he wrote on social media.
While Israel awaits a final election result, the fact remains that the 73-year-old Netanyahu is still accused of corruption in an ongoing trial.