Briefly

Israel

Netanyahu confirmed as winner with allies

The right-wing bloc of former Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu won the general elections with a clear majority in the 120-seat parliament, election committee chief Orly Ades said. Prime Minister Yair Lapid congratulated Netanyahu and instructed his staff to prepare an organized transition of power, his office said. The official results will be submitted to President Isaac Herzog this coming week, and he is expected to task Netanyahu with forming the next government, said Ades, director of the Central Elections Committee which oversees elections.