Netanyahu poised to reassume power with help from far-right friends

Former PM appears likely to form next government, mostly thanks to alliance with Religious Zionists

Don't call it a comeback. Benjamin Netanyahu was booted from office last summer by a broad coalition united by their distaste for the conservative Likud leader. But after Tuesday's election - an unprecedented fifth poll in less than four years - the short-lived government of change" is probably going to prove no more than a brief intermission in the political behemoth's long career.

With 80% of votes counted on Wednesday, but official results not due until next week, Bibi, as he is commonly known, appears the most likely candidate to form a new government.