Israeli PM Lapid concedes election to Netanyahu

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Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid has conceded the election, recognizing former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as his successor, Lapid's office confirmed to Fox News.

According to a statement from his office, Lapid has already called Netanyahu to congratulate him. Lapid told Netanyahu that he instructed his office to make arrangements for the transition of power.

"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 was serving as interim, or caretaker prime minister, since June when previous Prime Minister Naftali Bennett lost his majority and the government dissolved. This set the stage for this week's election, and after a near-final vote tally had Netanyahu with enough of a majority, Lapid announced the Likud Party leader as the victor.

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FILE - Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid makes an opening statement as he chairs the weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, Oct. 2, 2022. Israel’s prime minister said Tuesday, Oct. 11,  that the country has reached an "historic agreement" with neighboring Lebanon over their shared maritime border after months of U.S.-brokered negotiations.(AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo, File) (Dalati Nohra via AP)

Official final results are not expected until later on Thursday.

This will be Netanyahu's third stint as prime minister. He first served from 1996 to 1999, and then again from 2009 to 2021.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives for a weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem, Sunday, April 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner) (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)

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Former Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon spoke to Fox News earlier this week about the future of U.S.-Israel relations if Netanyahu were to win. Danon, who was on the Likud candidate list, could likely be a Knesset member in the new government.

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"I think if we will win, if Netanyahu will return to his position as prime minister, we will be able to put the issue of Iran on the front lines and we will expect our colleagues in the U.S. also to address this threat," Danon said.

Danon did not believe the U.S. midterm elections would have a tremendous impact, as the two countries already have "a strong bond."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.