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.
Media Learns Would-Be Shooter Is Trans, Immediately Starts Using Biological Pronouns to Hide Trans ID, Blaming Men Instead
Repeat offender accused of shooting National Guard member has lengthy history with the law, records show
Former OJ Simpson attorney, longtime friend both support possibility of accomplice in 1994 murders
Trump renews push to rename New Mexico ‘New America,’ touts higher home values and incomes
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts Pulled for Season, Doctors Find Multiple Blood Clots in His Lungs
Smithsonian screening dispute puts museum’s commitment to diverse views on trial: ‘Right kind of Black?’
Reporter’s Notebook: Senate sneaks in one last political play before voters have their say
France’s massive intel failure sparks resignation offers amid days of rioting
Federal voter fraud arrests intensify in California days after DOJ warning
Rick Jackson to skip Trump campaign rally in Georgia
Court Set to Deliver Big Win to 70 Churches Seeking to Leave United Methodist Denomination
How a foreign government helped accused Saudi spy’s family flee US after OpenAI bug scandal
Violent far-left riots in France are ‘chilling warning’ for Americans at home, Mike Johnson says
WJ Straw Poll: Rubio Nears 50 Percent as Massie Loses More Ground
Trump aides fire back at press over Zacharia firing as they seek to limit damage
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.
Media Learns Would-Be Shooter Is Trans, Immediately Starts Using Biological Pronouns to Hide Trans ID, Blaming Men Instead
Repeat offender accused of shooting National Guard member has lengthy history with the law, records show
Former OJ Simpson attorney, longtime friend both support possibility of accomplice in 1994 murders
Trump renews push to rename New Mexico ‘New America,’ touts higher home values and incomes
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts Pulled for Season, Doctors Find Multiple Blood Clots in His Lungs
Smithsonian screening dispute puts museum’s commitment to diverse views on trial: ‘Right kind of Black?’
Reporter’s Notebook: Senate sneaks in one last political play before voters have their say
France’s massive intel failure sparks resignation offers amid days of rioting
Federal voter fraud arrests intensify in California days after DOJ warning
Rick Jackson to skip Trump campaign rally in Georgia
Court Set to Deliver Big Win to 70 Churches Seeking to Leave United Methodist Denomination
How a foreign government helped accused Saudi spy’s family flee US after OpenAI bug scandal
Violent far-left riots in France are ‘chilling warning’ for Americans at home, Mike Johnson says
WJ Straw Poll: Rubio Nears 50 Percent as Massie Loses More Ground
Trump aides fire back at press over Zacharia firing as they seek to limit damage
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.
