NETANYAHU STAGES HIS SIXTH COMEBACK

Israel Prime Minister Yair Lapid has congratulated Benjamin Netanyahu on his election win as final results confirmed the former leader’s triumphant comeback at the head of a solidly right-wing alliance.

Netanyahu’s victory is set to end an unprecedented stalemate in Israel after five elections in less than four years. This time, the dominant Israeli politician of his generation won a clear parliamentary majority, boosted by ultranationalist and religious parties.

‘‘The state of Israel comes before any political consideration,’’ Lapid said. ‘‘I wish Netanyahu success, for the sake of the people of Israel and the state of Israel.’’

Lapid has served as interim prime minister for the past four months. Netanyahu is expected to form the country’s most right-wing government in history when he takes power, likely in the coming weeks.

It will be his sixth term.

According to the final results, which still need to be certified in the coming days, Netanyahu and his ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox allies captured 64 seats in Israel’s 120-seat parliament, or Knesset.

His opponents in the current coalition, led by Lapid, won 51 seats, with the remainder held by a small unaffiliated Arab party.

Netanyahu is charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in a series of scandals involving wealthy associates and media moguls. He denies wrongdoing, seeing the trial as a witch hunt