Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on right-wing parties on Wednesday to join him in a governing coalition, in his first speech since elections last week.

The vote, Israel's fourth in two years, delivered the veteran premier's Likud 30 seats in the 120-seat parliament, making it the biggest party -- but a majority of 61 is required to form a government.

Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges, faces a bloc of 57 lawmakers led by centrist part Yesh Atid, who are seeking to end his record-breaking 12 years in power.&nbsp;

Both camps are short of an overall majority, and Netanyahu is reaching out to small, undeclared parties which could take his government over the line.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/netanyahu-to-rivals-come-back-home-align-with-me-374666">Watch |</a>

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In a brief televised address on Wednesday, Netanyahu insisted that "the people have given a majority to the right, with 65 seats" and urged undecided right-wing leaders to "come back home" and join a coalition.

"Let's put our differences aside to form, together, a stable government of the right, as the people want," he said.

The hard-right Yamina party of Naftali Bennett, with seven seats, could potentially join the six lawmakers of the New Hope party of Gideon Saar to help the premier form a majority.

Both Bennett and Saar are former Netanyahu allies.

Saar has repeatedly ruled out joining a Netanyahu administration, tweeting again on Wednesday that he would "neither join nor support a government led by Netanyahu".

Bennett has yet to say whether he would join a government led by his former boss.

Yamina said in a statement Wednesday that Bennett would "make every effort to form a stable government to save Israel from chaos".

Israel's President Reuven Rivlin said Monday he would pick a candidate by April 7 to form the next government.&nbsp;

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on right-wing parties on Wednesday to join him in a governing coalition, in his first speech since elections last week.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on right-wing parties on Wednesday to join him in a governing coalition, in his first speech since elections last week. The vote, Israel's fourth in two years, delivered the veteran premier's Likud 30 seats in the 120-seat parliament, making it the biggest party -- but a majority of 61 is required to form a government. Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges, faces a bloc of 57 lawmakers led by centrist part Yesh Atid, who are seeking to end his record-breaking 12 years in power. Both camps are short of an overall majority, and Netanyahu is reaching out to small, undeclared parties which could take his government over the line. Watch | In a brief televised address on Wednesday, Netanyahu insisted that "the people have given a majority to the right, with 65 seats" and urged undecided right-wing leaders to "come back home" and join a coalition. "Let's put our differences aside to form, together, a stable government of the right, as the people want," he said. The hard-right Yamina party of Naftali Bennett, with seven seats, could potentially join the six lawmakers of the New Hope party of Gideon Saar to help the premier form a majority. Both Bennett and Saar are former Netanyahu allies. Saar has repeatedly ruled out joining a Netanyahu administration, tweeting again on Wednesday that he would "neither join nor support a government led by Netanyahu". Bennett has yet to say whether he would join a government led by his former boss. Yamina said in a statement Wednesday that Bennett would "make every effort to form a stable government to save Israel from chaos". Israel's President Reuven Rivlin said Monday he would pick a candidate by April 7 to form the next government.

Israel's Netanyahu urges right-wing parties to form coalition

As Israel started voting on Tuesday, the authorities have made special arrangements to make sure that people who 
have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus do not miss out on the chance to exercise their right to vote.

Israelis who tested positive for coronavirus will be casting their ballots in specially designed drive-through polling stations.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/polls-open-in-israel-as-contenders-seek-to-topple-pm-netanyahu-372460">Polls open in Israel as contenders seek to topple PM Netanyahu</a>

The country began its fourth elections in the past two years on Tuesday morning. This time the current Prime 
Minister Benjamin &nbsp;Netanyahu's Likud party will be clashing against a new challenger Yair Lapid-led centre-lesh Atid party.

Netanyahu is running his campaign on the basis of the recovery and vaccination drive which set a world record in the coronavirus pandemic year.

Watch |&nbsp;

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With the slogan of "Vaccination Nation", Netanyahu is hoping to be able to win back the votes of the locals after battling various allegations and cases of abuse of power and corruption.

Since the coronavirus pandemic has sent the country into multiple lockdowns, the authorities have made sure to take all necessary precautions.

The people who have tested positive for COVID-19 have been given the chance to cast their vote by casting their ballot through a drive-through polling booth.

All election officers and volunteers present at the booths were seen wearing protective gears from head to toe, while 
supervising and initiating the voting process.

When a car drives in through the designated drive-way, the ballot station is wheeled towards the car and the 
officials stand behind a divider while the voters choose their ballot.

Netanyahu is hoping to continue his stride of being Israel's longest-serving head of the government, despite the continuous protests against him.

As Israel started voting on Tuesday, the authorities have made special arrangements to make sure that people who have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus do not miss out on the chance to exercise their right to vote.

As Israel started voting on Tuesday, the authorities have made special arrangements to make sure that people who have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus do not miss out on the chance to exercise their right to vote. Israelis who tested positive for coronavirus will be casting their ballots in specially designed drive-through polling stations. Also read | Polls open in Israel as contenders seek to topple PM Netanyahu The country began its fourth elections in the past two years on Tuesday morning. This time the current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party will be clashing against a new challenger Yair Lapid-led centre-lesh Atid party. Netanyahu is running his campaign on the basis of the recovery and vaccination drive which set a world record in the coronavirus pandemic year. Watch | With the slogan of "Vaccination Nation", Netanyahu is hoping to be able to win back the votes of the locals after battling various allegations and cases of abuse of power and corruption. Since the coronavirus pandemic has sent the country into multiple lockdowns, the authorities have made sure to take all necessary precautions. The people who have tested positive for COVID-19 have been given the chance to cast their vote by casting their ballot through a drive-through polling booth. All election officers and volunteers present at the booths were seen wearing protective gears from head to toe, while supervising and initiating the voting process. When a car drives in through the designated drive-way, the ballot station is wheeled towards the car and the officials stand behind a divider while the voters choose their ballot. Netanyahu is hoping to continue his stride of being Israel's longest-serving head of the government, despite the continuous protests against him.

Israel opts for drive-thru voting for COVID positive people

Polls opened in Israel including in the occupied West Bank for the fourth time in two years as Prime Minister Benjamin&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/thousands-rally-at-anti-netanyahu-protest-ahead-of-election-372013">Netanyahu's</a> Likud party clashes against&nbsp;a new challenger Yair Lapid-led centre-left party Yesh Atid&nbsp;(There is a Future) party.

Watch:

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Netanyahu, 71, who battled corruption allegations, has ruled over Israel as prime minister for an unprecedented 12 consecutive years. However, he was&nbsp;unable to unite a stable coalition.

The Israeli prime minister has been fighting the new election under the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/will-vaccination-nation-israel-vote-for-prime-minister-netanyahu-372358">"Vaccination Nation"</a> slogan as the country has moved at breakneck speed to ensure <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-bahrain-leaders-discuss-vaccine-plant-netanyahu-visit-to-gulf-state-366232">COVID-19 </a>vaccination for all its citizen.&nbsp;

The Likud party needs a 61-seat parliamentary majority in the 120-member Knesset with 6.5 million registered voters set to deliver a result.&nbsp;

Yair Lapid, 57, an ex-finance minister and TV host who leads the Yesh Atid party, is widely expected to do well against Gantz as the strongest force in the anti-Netanyahu camp. Also in the race are Naftali Bennett, 48, belonging to the Yamina party and Gideon Saar, 54, who heads&nbsp;the New Hope party.

Gantz's Blue and White party,&nbsp;which had failed to hold its coalition partnership with Netanyahu, has seen his popularity plunge as he failed to hold the government together.

The results of the crucial polls are set to trickle in overnight from Tuesday, with final results expected around Friday.&nbsp;

Polls opened in Israel including in the occupied West Bank for the fourth time in two years as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party clashes against a new challenger Yair Lapid-led centre-left party Yesh Atid (There is a Future) party.

Polls opened in Israel including in the occupied West Bank for the fourth time in two years as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party clashes against a new challenger Yair Lapid-led centre-left party Yesh Atid (There is a Future) party. Watch: Netanyahu, 71, who battled corruption allegations, has ruled over Israel as prime minister for an unprecedented 12 consecutive years. However, he was unable to unite a stable coalition. The Israeli prime minister has been fighting the new election under the "Vaccination Nation" slogan as the country has moved at breakneck speed to ensure COVID-19 vaccination for all its citizen. The Likud party needs a 61-seat parliamentary majority in the 120-member Knesset with 6.5 million registered voters set to deliver a result. Yair Lapid, 57, an ex-finance minister and TV host who leads the Yesh Atid party, is widely expected to do well against Gantz as the strongest force in the anti-Netanyahu camp. Also in the race are Naftali Bennett, 48, belonging to the Yamina party and Gideon Saar, 54, who heads the New Hope party. Gantz's Blue and White party, which had failed to hold its coalition partnership with Netanyahu, has seen his popularity plunge as he failed to hold the government together. The results of the crucial polls are set to trickle in overnight from Tuesday, with final results expected around Friday.

Polls open in Israel as contenders seek to topple PM Netanyahu