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.
VP Vance to meet with Viktor Orbán in Hungary days ahead of foreign nation’s elections
Celebrity chef lashes out at Trump for changing the ‘rules’ the same year as America 250
Colorado House advances conversion therapy lawsuit bill; GOP lawmaker calls it ‘slap in the face’ to SCOTUS
Artemis II crew describes life aboard Orion spacecraft on historic journey to the moon and back
Erika Kirk and Karoline Leavitt talk free thinking and faith at TPUSA college tour kickoff
Karoline Leavitt reveals ‘anti-climatic’ way Trump told her she’d be press secretary: ‘Oh, by the way’
Trump slaps up to 100% tariff on some brand-name drug imports in major America First push
Two arrested in NC after police find 13-year-old kept in dog kennel, 5 other kids in ‘filthy’ home
Heart-pounding video shows fisherman leaping into ocean to save great white shark
Pete Hegseth signs memo opening door for troops to carry personal firearms on bases
Illegal migrant babysitter accused in 5-year-old attack now faces major charges
Florida, Mississippi join wave of states tightening voter citizenship rules
Trump Announces Plan to Help DHS Workers in Spite of ‘Radical Left’ Shutdown
Trump 2027 budget preview hints at sweeping scale-up in core agenda
Report: The Last Straw That Led to Trump Firing Pam Bondi Had to Do with Eric Swalwell
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.
VP Vance to meet with Viktor Orbán in Hungary days ahead of foreign nation’s elections
Celebrity chef lashes out at Trump for changing the ‘rules’ the same year as America 250
Colorado House advances conversion therapy lawsuit bill; GOP lawmaker calls it ‘slap in the face’ to SCOTUS
Artemis II crew describes life aboard Orion spacecraft on historic journey to the moon and back
Erika Kirk and Karoline Leavitt talk free thinking and faith at TPUSA college tour kickoff
Karoline Leavitt reveals ‘anti-climatic’ way Trump told her she’d be press secretary: ‘Oh, by the way’
Trump slaps up to 100% tariff on some brand-name drug imports in major America First push
Two arrested in NC after police find 13-year-old kept in dog kennel, 5 other kids in ‘filthy’ home
Heart-pounding video shows fisherman leaping into ocean to save great white shark
Pete Hegseth signs memo opening door for troops to carry personal firearms on bases
Illegal migrant babysitter accused in 5-year-old attack now faces major charges
Florida, Mississippi join wave of states tightening voter citizenship rules
Trump Announces Plan to Help DHS Workers in Spite of ‘Radical Left’ Shutdown
Trump 2027 budget preview hints at sweeping scale-up in core agenda
Report: The Last Straw That Led to Trump Firing Pam Bondi Had to Do with Eric Swalwell
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.
