Netanyahu begins coalition talks to form Israeli government

Veteran leader and his far-right allies win decisive 64 seats in 120-seat Knesset

The former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has begun coalition negotiations on forming a government, after winning a decisive majority in Israel's fifth election in four years with the help of ultra-Orthodox parties and a new alliance with the far right.

After a year in opposition, and years of political chaos triggered by his ongoing corruption trial, the veteran politician engineered a comeback in Tuesday's vote. His majority means that the period of electoral deadlock is in all probability over for now, and Netanyahu - already the country's longest serving prime minister - is set to stay in the job for at least the next four years. Back in office, the 73-year-old's first priority will be seeking to get his trial dropped. He denies all charges.