By COLlive reporter
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Tuesday night “major victory” in the country’s national elections that saw him attacked from home and abroad.
“Against all odds: A great victory for the Likud. A major victory for the people of Israel,” Netanyahu wrote in a Facebook status. Pre-election polls gave Labor a clear lead over Likud.
But when the country woke up on Wednesday morning they discovered his win was even larger than expected: His Likud party scored a major advantage over the left wing Zionist Union led by Issac Herzog.
A count of 99 percent of the ballot boxes had Likud with 29 seats and Zionist Union with 24, Ynet News reported.
Netanyahu will have to rely on smaller parties among the Knesset’s pool of 120 members to create a coalition. The parties interested in Netanyahu standing at the helm for the next 4 years have an easy majority.
The Joint Arab List placed third behind the two major parties with 14 seats ahead of Yesh Atid’s 11 seats. Former Likudnik Moshe Kahlon‘s centrist Kulanu received 10 seats in the count.
Naftali Bennet, whose religious right-wing party Bayit Yehudi began the election cycle with a lead of 17 seats, only maintained its 8 seats. Yisrael Beytenu ended with six seats, United Torah Judaism and Shas at 7, Meretz dropping to 4.
Yachad, founded by former Shas leader Eli Yishai and hoping to be a home for the haredi right, did not pass the election threshold of 3.25 percent.
This dramatic election has been very much about Netanyahu’s character and leadership. Most visibly was his speech to Congress about the danger of a nuclear Iran that was publicly contested by the White House.
President Barack Obama‘s rocky relationship with Netanyahu over key issues –despite continuous cooperation between both countries– was brought front and center but didn’t seem to affect Netanyahu’s standing in Israel.
The Drudge Report website, in reporting about the election outcome, put it simply by writing “Bibi Stays” under a photo of a stern looking Obama. The White House already notified that it will work with whomever wins.
“The best campaigner of all did it again,” is how Yossi Verter, the Haaretz pundit, described Neyantahu’s journey which included a strong turn to the right, reversing his support for a Palestinian state.
Jonathan Tobin of Commentary magazine wrote: “Netanyahu appears to have survived and will likely surpass David Ben Gurion as the country’s longest serving prime minister.”
Comedian Mendy Pellin tweeted: “Obama has not given his concession speech yet. #BibiWins #IsraelElections.”
Barack Obama reacts to Netanyahu’s re-election pic.twitter.com/zINaDEfagr
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) March 17, 2015
Bibi is a modern day, sort of oxymoronic tzadik! He is not perfect yet compared to Perez…yes, he is! He has appropriate Jewish pride, Israeli pride, a pride needed to maintain a country.
I LOVE YOU BIBI!!
My initial thoughts – this is very good and we see the Rebbe’s hand directly in it: Hashem’s direct hand in the election results is not lost on any of the political operatives in Israel. In the past two elections, the left outperformed the polls by 5 seats. All predictors were adding 5 seats to the left on top of the last polls. Picking up something to go to the airport last night, the take out owner, an older Israeli lad, was quite happy with the results and said that she felt a day before that things were G-d forbid… Read more »
HKB”H runs the world, especially able to see this in Israel. First words come pouring from Bibi’s mouth about no Palestinian state, then surprise victory. We just need to do our part and HKB”H continues His.
While disappointed Yachad did not make the cut, I am thankful to Hashem Yisbaruch that the leftists are out. Now we need to see a very hard line against terrorism because Hamas will do whatever it takes – and so far, we haven’t.
Very happy about this result. I think my blood pressure just went down 20 points. 🙂
This should teach you a lesson not to meddle in the affairs of a country like Israel
The people have spoken: They trust Netanyahu more than those who would obediently follow instructions from the White House
Maybe his unexpected success is a reward for his standing up
and defending the Jewish state without caring what the world
thinks!
If he follows the Rebbe’s instructions he will be “unstoppable”.
Thanks for all those voters in Eretz yisroel and all those who said Tehillim in Chutz looretz
בס’ד
bibi should thank barack hussein. the Israeli voters are aware what a _________ Obama is, so voted against his butinsky support of a candidate. bibi is not ideal, but he is the best available at this time. of course, we need Moshiach Tzedkaino.
Now let’s hope that he forms a narrow right wing coalition according to the Rebbe’s instructions
Very well said!
An open revealed miricle.
May Hashem bless with a long life.
BS”D
BH and may he be true to his erev election promise
He is not perfect
And we hope and pray for moshiach to come and Torah to rule and a tzaddik to lead
But he has serious jewish pride
And he’s been doing his work leshem shomayim
In the face of immense pressure and hatred
He stands up for jewish values and the importance of our nation
I love him!!!! May Gd reward him for his work
Serves him right!!
for the 4th time Israel votes RIGHT wing!!
Well done Netanyahu, well done Likud and all the national right wing parties! The Israeli people root for you!
Thank you, Hashem!
hope he wins
We still need Moshiach now!
Although Netanyahu gave Chevron away. Leftist Labor Party says they’ll give half of Yerushalayim away and would uproot settlers. We need Bibi!