Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu visited the Kotel (Western Wall) in Jerusalem on Wednesday, after a count of over 99% of the votes showed his Likud party had routed Labor handily by a gap of 30 to 24 mandates.
Speaking at the Western Wall, which remains from the Second Temple that was destroyed by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago, Netanyahu said "here, at the holiest site to the Jewish people, I am moved by the historical meaning of this place to our people, an ancient people 4,000-years-old that renewed its sovereign life in its historical homeland."
Netanyahu's statement is slightly inaccurate, given that the Temple Mount above the Wall, and not the Wall itself, is the holiest site in Judaism.
"I am moved from the weight of responsibility that the people of Israel placed on my shoulders," noted Netanyahu.
"I appreciate the decision of Israeli citizens to choose me and my companions against all the chances, and also against large forces," he continued. "I want to say that I will do all I can to take care of the welfare and security of every citizen of Israel, and with G-d's help we will act and succeed. Thank you all very much."
Video from Netanyahu's visit, in Hebrew, can be seen here:
After 99% of the ballots were counted, Likud was found to have defeated Labor 30 to 24, with the joint Arab list coming in next at 14, followed by Yesh Atid with 11, Kulanu at ten, Jewish Home with eight, Shas at seven, United Torah Judaism and Yisrael Beytenu with six each, and Meretz at four. Yachad - Ha'am Itanu's joint list with Otzma Yehudit did not pass the threshold percentage, falling just 11,000 short.
Several tens of thousands of ballots have yet to be counted, and are to be completed in the coming days, although they are not anticipated to affect the result for Yachad.