Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a victory speech to supporters of his Likud Party in the wee hours of Tuesday morning after his stunning, come-from-behind victory in Israel’s third successive elections.
Netanyahu came onstage singing his party song, and thanked his supporters for their hard work in securing the win.
“I remember our first victory in 1996. It was an historic victory,” Netanyahu said, in Hebrew. “But this victory, this time, is at least as sweet, if not sweeter. An even greater victory! Because it was a victory against all the odds.”
Netanyahu had trailed in polls until the final days, and still faces criminal indictment on corruption charges (which his supporters claim are baseless and politically motivated).
But voters rallied to his side for a variety of factors.
Nobu chef killed after teen driver crashes into parked car in California
Catfight! Insiders Say ‘The View’ Hosts Ticked at ABC After Whoopi’s Hiatus – ‘Every One of Them Wanted [It]’
Breaking: Televangelist Jim Bakker Dies at 86
Trump signs order waiving off-road rule for red-dyed diesel at Nebraska rally
Dennis Hastert, longest-serving Republican House Speaker and convicted child molester, dies at 84
Trump Says the New York Times Is Lying About His Ohio Rally, and That He Has Proof
Video: USNORTHCOM Repositioning Hundreds of Troops to Rio Grande After Servicemen Fired on from Mexico
Trump clears way for Fort Hood terrorist to face Army firing squad nearly 17 years after massacre
Luxury fashion designers found shot dead in California as family reportedly reveals troubling lead-up
Text Messages Between Cornell Jane Doe and Alleged Attacker Turn Case on Its Head
Biden DOJ officials warned their school board investigation resembled ‘Anti-MAGA Task Force’
Muslim Flydubai Hijack Suspect Cited Quran, Repeatedly Called for Women to Be Abused, Slapped, Bashed in Head
Biden-era FBI tracked Trump family travel and Wiles’ calls with lawyers in secret probe: docs
Epstein survivor family claims GOP lawmaker’s staff ignored meeting request
El Sayed denies that Schumer PAC money will influence him in Washington
One may have been the indirect influence of American politics. Israeli voters watching Democrats choose Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) as their frontrunner may have been convinced to stick with their tough-minded leader. Netanyahu came to power in 2009 promising to oppose pressure from then-newly-elected President Barack Obama.
Netanyahu cited his record. “Do you know why [voters] put faith in us?” he asked. “Because they know that we brought the greatest decade in the history of the State of Israel.”
He talked about the country’s economic progress — which defied the recession that gripped much of the rest of the world — saying Israel had become “a country that is good to live in,” in terms of quality of life.
He also cited his good relationships with foreign leaders — not just with President Donald Trump, but also with Muslim nations.
One supporter waved a “Trump 2020: Keep America Great” prominently at the Likud victory party.
Nobu chef killed after teen driver crashes into parked car in California
Catfight! Insiders Say ‘The View’ Hosts Ticked at ABC After Whoopi’s Hiatus – ‘Every One of Them Wanted [It]’
Breaking: Televangelist Jim Bakker Dies at 86
Trump signs order waiving off-road rule for red-dyed diesel at Nebraska rally
Dennis Hastert, longest-serving Republican House Speaker and convicted child molester, dies at 84
Trump Says the New York Times Is Lying About His Ohio Rally, and That He Has Proof
Video: USNORTHCOM Repositioning Hundreds of Troops to Rio Grande After Servicemen Fired on from Mexico
Trump clears way for Fort Hood terrorist to face Army firing squad nearly 17 years after massacre
Luxury fashion designers found shot dead in California as family reportedly reveals troubling lead-up
Text Messages Between Cornell Jane Doe and Alleged Attacker Turn Case on Its Head
Biden DOJ officials warned their school board investigation resembled ‘Anti-MAGA Task Force’
Muslim Flydubai Hijack Suspect Cited Quran, Repeatedly Called for Women to Be Abused, Slapped, Bashed in Head
Biden-era FBI tracked Trump family travel and Wiles’ calls with lawyers in secret probe: docs
Epstein survivor family claims GOP lawmaker’s staff ignored meeting request
El Sayed denies that Schumer PAC money will influence him in Washington
Exit polls projected that Likud had won roughly 36 or 37 seats in Israel’s 120-seat Knesset, nearly enough to form a governing majority with small conservative parties. The opposition Blue and White was projected to win 33 or 33.
Though it was not clear whether Netanyahu would have enough seats to reach a coalition of 61, it was presumed that he would be able to do so — and without the help of a smaller spoiler party that had stymied him twice before.
The vote-counting process is expected to take more than 48 hours, with final results only determined by Thursday morning.
“The time has come to end the cycle of elections and to establish a government in Israel!” Netanyahu concluded.
Story cited here.
