Looming Netanyahu election victory raises Palestinian fears of annexation

Close-to-complete unofficial results indicated on Wednesday that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is headed to a fifth term, with the expected support of nationalist and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties.

In the final stretch of the campaign, Netanyahu pledged he would annex Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, a move that would destroy remaining hopes for Palestinian statehood.

Abbas aide Ahmed Majdalani says that Palestinians will seek the help of the international community to try to block any annexation plans.

He said that the outcome of the election means a boost for what he called the "extreme right-wing camp" in Israeli politics.

Binyamin Netanyahu appeared on Wednesday to be headed toward a historic fifth term as Israel's prime minister, with close-to-complete unofficial election results giving his right-wing Likud and other nationalist and religious parties a solid majority in parliament.

The outcome affirmed Israel's continued tilt to the right and further dimmed hopes of a negotiated solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Re-election will give Netanyahu an important boost as he braces for the likelihood of criminal charges in a series of corruption scandals.

With 97.4% of the vote counted Wednesday, Likud and its natural political allies commanded a 65-55 majority in parliament. However, the country now faces what could be weeks of political negotiations over the composition of a ruling coalition.

Netanyahu had fought a tight race against centrist ex-army chief Benny Gantz.