Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday he intends to try to form a government in the next two to three weeks, which would give him a fourth term as prime minister, after his conservative Likud party won Israel's parliamentary election.
With nearly all of the ballots counted, Likud captured 30 seats to beat out the 24 seats for its main challenger, the Zionist Union.
A statement from Mr. Netanyahu's office said he has already reached out to smaller parties in order to form the 61-seat coalition he needs to govern. One key will be the centrist Kulanu party, which won 10 seats in Tuesday's vote.
"The citizens of Israel expect us to quickly put together a leadership that will work for them regarding security, economy and society as we committed to do, and we will do so," Netanyahu said.
Zionist Union leader Isaac Herzog conceded defeat in the election and said he congratulated Mr. Netanyahu in a phone call. Herzog also told reporters his party will continue working for the Israeli people as a member of the opposition.