Bibi King of Israel

Netanyahu returns to power in Israel

Israel's longest-serving Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, has won a record fifth term in office.

Netanyahu's Likud party won 30 seats in the 120-member Knesset, or parliament, in the April 9 election. That gives him a narrow lead over his main rival, Benny Gantz of the Blue and White party, which won 35 seats.

Netanyahu, 69, has been Prime Minister of Israel since 2009. He previously served as Prime Minister from 1996 to 1999. He is the longest-serving Prime Minister in Israeli history.

Netanyahu's victory is a major setback for the Palestinian peace process. Netanyahu has long opposed the creation of a Palestinian state, and he has vowed to continue building settlements in the occupied West Bank.

The election results are also a blow to the international community, which has been pressuring Israel to make peace with the Palestinians. The United States, the European Union, and the United Nations have all called on Israel to stop building settlements and to negotiate a two-state solution with the Palestinians.

Netanyahu's victory is likely to further strain relations between Israel and the international community. It is also likely to make it more difficult to achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinians.