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.
WATCH: Parody drug ad spotlights RFK’s crackdown on misleading pharmaceutical marketing
Pence warns against putting nation ‘on trial’ after ‘one person’ killed Charlie Kirk
Mark Zuckerberg Flounders Onstage as Latest AI Demo Fails: ‘I Don’t Know What to Tell You Guys’
Saudi Arabia signs defense agreement with Pakistan following Israel’s Qatar strike
Trump allows former UK leader Tony Blair to organize Gaza peace plan, post-war authority
Over Half of US Voters Support the Firing of Leftists Celebrating the Murder of Charlie Kirk
Senate confirms dozens of Trump nominees in first test of new nuclear rules
Schumer accuses Trump of exploiting Charlie Kirk’s death to launch political ‘witch hunt’
Watch: Melania Trump and Princess Kate Team Up to Delight Young Children
Blue city bus attack heightens commuters’ fears after Charlotte train stabbing
Suspect in shooting of 3 Pennsylvania officers was being sought on stalking, trespassing charges: report
Turning Point USA Preparing for Potential Legal Action Against Charlie Kirk Slanderers: ‘We Have Good Lawyers’
Virginia boys notch court win after being labeled ‘sexual harassers’ over transgender locker room complaint
Trump says Jimmy Kimmel pulled off air due to ‘lack of talent’
SCOOP: Iryna Zarutska stabbing fuels transit safety overhaul talks in House
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.
WATCH: Parody drug ad spotlights RFK’s crackdown on misleading pharmaceutical marketing
Pence warns against putting nation ‘on trial’ after ‘one person’ killed Charlie Kirk
Mark Zuckerberg Flounders Onstage as Latest AI Demo Fails: ‘I Don’t Know What to Tell You Guys’
Saudi Arabia signs defense agreement with Pakistan following Israel’s Qatar strike
Trump allows former UK leader Tony Blair to organize Gaza peace plan, post-war authority
Over Half of US Voters Support the Firing of Leftists Celebrating the Murder of Charlie Kirk
Senate confirms dozens of Trump nominees in first test of new nuclear rules
Schumer accuses Trump of exploiting Charlie Kirk’s death to launch political ‘witch hunt’
Watch: Melania Trump and Princess Kate Team Up to Delight Young Children
Blue city bus attack heightens commuters’ fears after Charlotte train stabbing
Suspect in shooting of 3 Pennsylvania officers was being sought on stalking, trespassing charges: report
Turning Point USA Preparing for Potential Legal Action Against Charlie Kirk Slanderers: ‘We Have Good Lawyers’
Virginia boys notch court win after being labeled ‘sexual harassers’ over transgender locker room complaint
Trump says Jimmy Kimmel pulled off air due to ‘lack of talent’
SCOOP: Iryna Zarutska stabbing fuels transit safety overhaul talks in House
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.
