Israel's Likud party led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won a clear victory in the elections held on Tuesday. The politician seemed all but certain to form a new government.

Several voters were offended and several allies were alienated in the process.

According to a report, with 99.5 per cent of the ballots counted, Netanyahu's Likud Party had secured 29 or 30 seats in the parliament which has 120 seats. Its chief rival, center-left Zionist Union alliance secured 24 seats.

Netanyahu was the PM for three years in 1990s. He came back to the office in the year 2009 and said that he had a talk to heads of all parties in national camp and had asked them to help him form a government without any delay.

However, it is yet to be seen how his divisive campaign, being considered racist by some, will affect his ability to administrate over a fractured Israel.

Based on the results given in the report, Netanyahu may form a narrow coalition of nationalists and the religious parties free of ideological division which created issues for his last government. This was what he wanted when he called for early elections in the month of December.

Shortly after the polls closed, President Reuven Rivlin said that he will suggest that they (Netanyahu and Herzog) joined forces instead.

That option was rejected by both the camps who said that there were large gaps between their world views. Immediately after the polls closed, Herzog and Netanyahu stated working the phones, calling party head to begin deal making and horse taking. They hope to lineup majority of lawmakers behind them.

Former Likud minister Moshe Kahlon who broke away from the party later may be the biggest prize. He formed Kulanu which focuses on pocketbook issues. Though Mr.Kahlon leans to the right, he has some issues with the PM. Recently he said that he will not reveal his recommendations unless the final results had being tallied.

Kulanu won 10 seats, according to the report based on 99.5 per cent ballots counted. That will be sufficient to put either side's basic ideological alliance over 61, the magic number in case they also win the backing of the two ultra orthodox parties which managed to secure 14 seats.

The Join List of Arab parties secured 13 seats.

Yesh Atid, a centrist party won 11 seats. According to the report, the Jewish Home ended up with eight seats while Yisrael Beiteinu secured 6. The leftist Meretz secured four seats.

The turnout was about 72 per cent.

Tuesday's balloting was held only 26 months post Israel's last election.