Netanyahu’s party, Likud, and its traditional allies are on track to hold a majority of 65 seats in the 120-member Parliament, with 97.4 per cent of votes counted. Major opposition parties have conceded defeat. U.S. President Donald Trump called Netanyahu’s victory a “good sign for peace.” An aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said the election marked the ascendance of the “extreme right-wing camp,” and that the Palestinians will seek support from the international community to block Netanyahu’s plans to annex parts of the West Bank. (Haaretz, Associated Press)

Talking point: Netanyahu faces significant threats to his leadership at home and abroad. Domestically, he faces potential criminal charges on corruption, a hearing for which is scheduled to be held within the next three months. If convicted, Israeli law requires Netanyahu to resign, although he has publicly mused about passing a law making it illegal to prosecute a sitting prime minister. Despite the political instability, Israel—in particular Tel Aviv—continues to be a hotbed for high-tech investment. More than 300 global technology companies operate within an hour’s drive of Tel Aviv. However, locals worry about a growing talent gap, even with foreign investment pouring in. The number of tech industry employees in the country increased by just four per cent from 2011 to 2015, even as the total population increased by nearly eight per cent. The proportion of high-tech staff in the business sector as a whole fell from 12.6 per cent to 11.7 per cent.