Netanyahu sworn into Israel's new parliament after election victory

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who won the April 9 elections in Israel, sworn into the country's new parliament on Tuesday.

He will seek to form a governing coalition in the days ahead.

Netanyahu was among the 120 members of the Knesset, or parliament.

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HisLikud won 35 seats out of the Knesset's 120 in the election, the same as his main opponents from the centrist Blue and White alliance, led by ex-military chief Benny Gantz.

But support from smaller right-wing parties allied to Likud led to a majority of 65 parliament members supporting Netanyahu to continue on as premier.

On April 17, President Reuven Rivlin tasked Netanyahu with building a government.

He has 28 days to form a government, with a possible extension of a further two weeks.

His support comes mainly from the nationalist right and the ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties.

Meanwhile, the attorney general has announced he intends to indict him for bribery, fraud and breach of trust pending a hearing.

But Netanyahu would be entitled to remain in office until his trial and any subsequent appeals are over.

One potential member of his coalition has said he wants to propose a law that would automatically shield parliament members from prosecution unless lawmakers act to lift it.

(With inputs from AFP)