Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party has scored a resounding a victory in Israel's election, final results show.

With nearly all the votes counted, Likud appeared to have earned 30 out of parliament's 120 seats.

Exit polls had shown a tight race with the opposition Zionist Union, but it the centre-left party ended up with just 24 seats.

Mr Netanyahu will now set about putting together a coalition government with right-wing and religious allies.

The win comes after he tacked to the right in the final days of campaigning, including abandoning a commitment to negotiate a Palestinian state.

In a four-day pre-election blitz, he made a series of promises designed to shore up his Likud base and draw voters from other right-wing and nationalist parties.

As well as saying 'no' to a Palestinian state, these included a pledge to go on building settlements on occupied land.

The victory was unexpected as the last opinion polls published four days before the vote showed the Zionist Union with a four-seat advantage over Likud.

In a statement, Likud said Mr Netanyahu intended to form a new government within weeks, with negotiations already underway with the pro-settler Jewish Home party led by Naftali Bennett, as well as with religious groups.

The critical party to get on side will be centrist Kulanu, led by former Likud member Moshe Kahlon, who won 10 seats, making him a kingmaker given his ability to side with either Mr Netanyahu or the centre-left opposition.

"Reality is not waiting for us," Mr Netanyahu said. "The citizens of Israel expect us to quickly put together a leadership that will work for them regarding security, economy and society as we committed to do - and we will do so."

If he manages to form a workable coalition, it would give Mr Netanyahu a fourth-term in office, putting him on track to become Israel's longest-serving prime minister, a position currently held by the country's founding father, David Ben-Gurion.

Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning from Tel Aviv, journalist John Costello explained what could be expected from a new government under Mr Netanyahu: