Likud looking to quickly form right-religious ruling government after gaining 30 seats to Zionist Union’s 24 with 99% of votes counted; Kulanu head speaks to Netanyahu as coalition talks get underway; Meretz leader says she’ll resign if party sinks below four mandates

Zionist Union party chief, Livni report ‘difficult morning’ after 6 seat deficit seals Likud election win

Ayelet Tsabari’s prize-winning ‘The Best Place on Earth’ gives 11 sensitive authentic snapshots of life under the radar

Op-ed: Netanyahu defied all predictions and crushed all rivals en route to a spectacular victory. But how will he use his power?

Jewish support for Netanyahu was both ‘significant’ and ‘tragic’, says the party’s chairman, Ayman Odeh

But liberal J Street expresses disappointment over PM’s victory, blasting his rejection of a Palestinian state

US to ‘evaluate’ stance on peace after PM rejects Palestinian state; White House voices ‘deep concern’ over his comments on Arabs

In the final stretch of the campaign, PM rejected Palestinian statehood and castigated foreign activists for funding Arab votes — bringing right-wing voters ‘home’ to his Likud party