"We won by believing in our own way and by the people of Israel," Netanyahu stated immediately after. But he's still two seats short of a ruling majority, as Reuters reports of the results:

With some 90 percent of the votes counted, Netanyahu, who has the pledged support of right-wing and religious parties for a coalition government, appeared to control 59 seats in parliament, two short of a ruling majority.

The gap made former defense minister Avigdor Lieberman's far-right Yisrael Beiteinu party a potential kingmaker after remaining on the sidelines in inconclusive ballots in April and September.

Netanyahu's right-wing Likud Party gained just over 31% of the vote, followed by the opposition Blue and White party of Benny Gantz with over 23%, and with The Joint List, the alliance of Israel's Arab political parties, with 11.60 percent.