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.
Dems demanding Venezuela brief face State Department fury as senators leave town without answers
VA University in Legal Trouble After Trying to Take Control of Christian Student Groups but Ignoring Muslims
DOJ Considering Whether Prosecutor’s Office Committed Misconduct Against Nixon: Report
Obama judge halts Trump firing bid as decades-old legal authority tees up possible major reversal
Socialist streamer Hasan Piker faces fury after pressuring Talarico to enact far-left policy if elected
Pope Leo XIV says Vatican is renewing alliance with ‘artists and cultural institutions’ against AI
Leftists Melt Down as Rapper Eminem Partners with Kid Rock on New Christian Album
Hochul says she’s ‘deeply disturbed’ by handling of Cornell rape case
Trump campaign insider reveals strategy behind midterm blitz that White House hopes pays off big
Cornell rape allegations prompt NY Attorney General Letitia James to open ‘active criminal investigation’
Final Jobs Report Before Midterms Comes In Way Below Expectations
Trump revives push to pass Sunshine Protection Act ending daylight saving time
Co-pilot stabbed during Flydubai flight describes lifesaving moment he opened cockpit door
California mayor accused of drunken behavior, racial slur, harassment in chief of staff’s claim
Rain or Shine: Trump Rushes to Oklahoma Rally by Highway After Severe Weather Grounds Him
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.
Dems demanding Venezuela brief face State Department fury as senators leave town without answers
VA University in Legal Trouble After Trying to Take Control of Christian Student Groups but Ignoring Muslims
DOJ Considering Whether Prosecutor’s Office Committed Misconduct Against Nixon: Report
Obama judge halts Trump firing bid as decades-old legal authority tees up possible major reversal
Socialist streamer Hasan Piker faces fury after pressuring Talarico to enact far-left policy if elected
Pope Leo XIV says Vatican is renewing alliance with ‘artists and cultural institutions’ against AI
Leftists Melt Down as Rapper Eminem Partners with Kid Rock on New Christian Album
Hochul says she’s ‘deeply disturbed’ by handling of Cornell rape case
Trump campaign insider reveals strategy behind midterm blitz that White House hopes pays off big
Cornell rape allegations prompt NY Attorney General Letitia James to open ‘active criminal investigation’
Final Jobs Report Before Midterms Comes In Way Below Expectations
Trump revives push to pass Sunshine Protection Act ending daylight saving time
Co-pilot stabbed during Flydubai flight describes lifesaving moment he opened cockpit door
California mayor accused of drunken behavior, racial slur, harassment in chief of staff’s claim
Rain or Shine: Trump Rushes to Oklahoma Rally by Highway After Severe Weather Grounds Him
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.
