Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu set to win election, exit polls say

Israel’s former prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is expected to make a dramatic comeback and win the country’s general election, exit polls suggest.

Mr Netanyahu told supporters “we are close to a big victory”, as projections gave his right-wing bloc a slim majority over his centre-left opponents, led by current Prime Minister Yair Lapid.

The election was widely seen as a vote for or against the former PM’s return, who was toppled last year after 12 straight years in power.