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.
Schumer caves, hands Republicans shutdown win after months of uncertainty
SEE IT: Dem senators rally behind El-Sayed but duck questions on progressive agenda
Two men accused of posing as federal agents arrested after allegedly targeting 85-year-old in $200K gold scam
Senate GOP punts party-line budget fight until after August recess
Trump urges Jeanine Pirro to revisit dropped Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool vandalism case
More than 50 bodies found decomposing inside Chicago funeral home after neighbors complained of ‘stench’
Fed-Up NYC Homeowners Take to Court to Fight Back Against Mamdani’s New Tax ‘Debacle’
Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has security clearance revoked over Air Force One disclosure
Trump-Backed Rep. Andy Ogles Loses Primary After Green Energy Group Spent Big to Unseat Him
Chilling new video shows armed citizens, off-duty trooper confront In-N-Out gunman during deadly rampage
Violent Criminal Who Was Set Free on Plea Deal Arrested After Horrific Attacks on Random Women
San Francisco dad questioned by park rangers for teaching his own kids tennis at public court
‘No place like Mackinac’: Mike Rogers trolls Abdul el Sayed after hot mic moment emerges
Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Duke Law’s alleged race-based admissions accused of defying Supreme Court
Do Americans Have to Obey Laws That Will Destroy Us? Thomas Jefferson Said Absolutely Not
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.
Schumer caves, hands Republicans shutdown win after months of uncertainty
SEE IT: Dem senators rally behind El-Sayed but duck questions on progressive agenda
Two men accused of posing as federal agents arrested after allegedly targeting 85-year-old in $200K gold scam
Senate GOP punts party-line budget fight until after August recess
Trump urges Jeanine Pirro to revisit dropped Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool vandalism case
More than 50 bodies found decomposing inside Chicago funeral home after neighbors complained of ‘stench’
Fed-Up NYC Homeowners Take to Court to Fight Back Against Mamdani’s New Tax ‘Debacle’
Former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has security clearance revoked over Air Force One disclosure
Trump-Backed Rep. Andy Ogles Loses Primary After Green Energy Group Spent Big to Unseat Him
Chilling new video shows armed citizens, off-duty trooper confront In-N-Out gunman during deadly rampage
Violent Criminal Who Was Set Free on Plea Deal Arrested After Horrific Attacks on Random Women
San Francisco dad questioned by park rangers for teaching his own kids tennis at public court
‘No place like Mackinac’: Mike Rogers trolls Abdul el Sayed after hot mic moment emerges
Fox News Campus Radicals Newsletter: Duke Law’s alleged race-based admissions accused of defying Supreme Court
Do Americans Have to Obey Laws That Will Destroy Us? Thomas Jefferson Said Absolutely Not
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.
