Benjamin Netanyahu expects to return to power after Israel's fifth election in four years, and his chances are potentially boosted by the rise of the far right, AFP reported.

Netanyahu, 73, is campaigning from the opposition for the first time in years.

He is running against centrist interim Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who last year turned a motley alliance of eight parties into a coalition that succeeded in removing Netanyahu from power.

Lapid goes to the polls on November 1, just days after a diplomatic breakthrough: the signing of a landmark agreement on the maritime border with enemy Lebanon, which opens access to offshore gas wealth for both sides.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu hopes that his record 15 years in power can convince the electorate that he alone has the necessary experience to lead the country, despite his ongoing corruption trial.

Polls show that Netanyahu's Likud is becoming the largest party in parliament, the Knesset, but in a political system dominated by coalitions, his path to the premiership is far from certain.

While the votes are being counted, both leaders are likely to enter into intensive negotiations with smaller parties, seeking the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority.

For Netanyahu, this means reviving his longstanding ties with the ultra-Orthodox, while at the same time he is also grooming the far-right alliance of Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.

The duo's alliance, Religious Zionism, is gaining momentum in the polls and could take third place, more than doubling its current six seats.

Support from the extreme right could serve as a ticket back to high office for Netanyahu, which would probably be done in exchange for the transfer of considerable powers to Ben-Gvir.

According to Israel's electoral system, parties must win at least four seats to get into parliament.

Several parties are balancing on the four-seat threshold, especially all three Arab-led groups that previously opposed Netanyahu.

Mansour Abbas, leader of the Ra'am party, which last year became the first Arab party to join the ruling coalition, told AFP that there is a "crisis of Arab public confidence."

Arab-Israelis constitute about 20 percent of the population, and if their turnout drops, Netanyahu's bloc could gain more seats.

Coalition negotiations could take weeks, and if they fail, there is a chance that the electorate will soon go to the polls again.

The outcome of this latest vote could have broader implications for Netanyahu, who is struggling with allegations of corruption. Securing the position of prime minister could pave the way for Netanyahu to gain immunity from prosecution with support.