Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu waves to supporters as reacts to exit poll figures in Israel's parliamentary elections late on March 17, 2015 in the city of Tel Aviv. (Agence France-Presse)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hopes to form a new government within weeks after defying the polls to seal a clear election win, his rightwing Likud party said today.
"The prime minister intends to begin forming the government immediately in order to finish the task within two to three weeks," a party statement said.
It said Netanyahu had already spoken overnight with the leaders of smaller parties he saw as likely coalition partners.