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.
EPA And Private Business Helps LA Wildfire Survivors Where City Won’t
75-Year-Old Nabbed at Border With Half a Million in Hard Narcotics
US Army helicopter goes down, but President Donald Trump says ‘pilots are fine’
GOP lawmaker warns voters that Platner’s ‘extreme’ policies just as concerning as his baggage: ‘Stay away’
Vance refers Tim Walz, Minnesota attorney general to DOJ for criminal investigation over state’s alleged fraud
Karmelo Anthony stays silent as analysts warn defense faces uphill battle in track meet stabbing trial
Massachusetts lawmakers pass bill to scrap ‘offensive language’ from state’s General Laws
Navy sailor admits killing fellow service member as mother questions missed warning signs
Gwyneth Paltrow’s ‘Centrist’ Politics Reveal How Far the Left Has Moved: ‘My Husband Thinks I’m a Republican’
DHS approves plan to verify voter citizenship, monitor mail ballots as Trump push intensifies
DOJ Vows Action After California Blocks Federal Audit of Voter Rolls: ‘What Are They Afraid Of?’
Supreme Court Slaps Down Lower Court Ruling That Backed Biden Admin’s War on Natural Gas Appliances
New Jersey Democrats advance bill criminalizing interference with abortion, transgender healthcare
Liberals File Lawsuit to Stop White House UFC Event Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday
Los Angeles mayoral primary results: Spencer Pratt upstart campaign falls short
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.
EPA And Private Business Helps LA Wildfire Survivors Where City Won’t
75-Year-Old Nabbed at Border With Half a Million in Hard Narcotics
US Army helicopter goes down, but President Donald Trump says ‘pilots are fine’
GOP lawmaker warns voters that Platner’s ‘extreme’ policies just as concerning as his baggage: ‘Stay away’
Vance refers Tim Walz, Minnesota attorney general to DOJ for criminal investigation over state’s alleged fraud
Karmelo Anthony stays silent as analysts warn defense faces uphill battle in track meet stabbing trial
Massachusetts lawmakers pass bill to scrap ‘offensive language’ from state’s General Laws
Navy sailor admits killing fellow service member as mother questions missed warning signs
Gwyneth Paltrow’s ‘Centrist’ Politics Reveal How Far the Left Has Moved: ‘My Husband Thinks I’m a Republican’
DHS approves plan to verify voter citizenship, monitor mail ballots as Trump push intensifies
DOJ Vows Action After California Blocks Federal Audit of Voter Rolls: ‘What Are They Afraid Of?’
Supreme Court Slaps Down Lower Court Ruling That Backed Biden Admin’s War on Natural Gas Appliances
New Jersey Democrats advance bill criminalizing interference with abortion, transgender healthcare
Liberals File Lawsuit to Stop White House UFC Event Celebrating America’s 250th Birthday
Los Angeles mayoral primary results: Spencer Pratt upstart campaign falls short
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.
