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.
BREAKING: Former Prince Andrew Arrested in Epstein Case
DC Mayor Bowser declares emergency over Potomac sewage spill, asks for federal help
RNC sues to stop Democrats’ Virginia redistricting push
California avalanche that killed 8 is deadliest in state history
Inside ICE’s battle with local Democrats to convert warehouses into detention centers
Former Prince Andrew of the UK has reportedly been arrested and more top headlines
Strapped New Yorkers swarm chaotic Mamdani-inspired free grocery store pop-up: We’re ‘in pain’
Trump hits campaign trail in key battleground as race to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene heats up
Is DEI Dead? Jasmine Crockett’s Texas Senate Run Seems Like an Afterthought Following Colbert’s James Talarico Stunt
LATE BREAKING: Massive Guthrie Kidnapping Break – FBI Now Has Names and Photos of Suspects
Hiker dies of hypothermia after slipping off trail near summit of New York’s tallest mountain
Grandmother tells Trump critics to ‘get off the man’s back’ during White House Black History Month event
DHS shutdown leaves local emergency responders on their own amid extreme weather, expert warns
Detroit officers facing termination for allegedly contacting immigration authorities during traffic stops
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani reverses course on homeless encampments after pausing clearings
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.
BREAKING: Former Prince Andrew Arrested in Epstein Case
DC Mayor Bowser declares emergency over Potomac sewage spill, asks for federal help
RNC sues to stop Democrats’ Virginia redistricting push
California avalanche that killed 8 is deadliest in state history
Inside ICE’s battle with local Democrats to convert warehouses into detention centers
Former Prince Andrew of the UK has reportedly been arrested and more top headlines
Strapped New Yorkers swarm chaotic Mamdani-inspired free grocery store pop-up: We’re ‘in pain’
Trump hits campaign trail in key battleground as race to replace Marjorie Taylor Greene heats up
Is DEI Dead? Jasmine Crockett’s Texas Senate Run Seems Like an Afterthought Following Colbert’s James Talarico Stunt
LATE BREAKING: Massive Guthrie Kidnapping Break – FBI Now Has Names and Photos of Suspects
Hiker dies of hypothermia after slipping off trail near summit of New York’s tallest mountain
Grandmother tells Trump critics to ‘get off the man’s back’ during White House Black History Month event
DHS shutdown leaves local emergency responders on their own amid extreme weather, expert warns
Detroit officers facing termination for allegedly contacting immigration authorities during traffic stops
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani reverses course on homeless encampments after pausing clearings
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.
