Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a last-minute campaign pitch in Jerusalem on Tuesday, making an impromptu speech urging complacent right-wing voters to go and vote.
Netanyahu, who wants to win a fifth term in office after already becoming the longest-serving prime minister to date, said that according to the turnout figures he had, large population centers that traditionally vote for left-wing parties have seen high turnout but added that it was not too late to fight back.
He then added that the Likud could be ousted from power for the first time in 10 years if Blue and White, an alliance of center-left parties, got more seats than Likud.
“Blue and White leader Benny Gantz said that he would implement the policies of Labor and Meretz,” Netanyahu warned while speaking through a bullhorn. He then asked rhetorically, “Do you want that?” to which the supporters cried out, “No!”
“Do you want to keep Israel safe? Then get out and vote, I want you to take your friends, your fellow shoppers in the market, your neighbors, vote Likud, Likud, Likud,” he said with a hoarse voice. “Tel Aviv turnout is skyrocketing, do you want Yair Lapid [Blue and White co-leader] as prime minister?”
Earlier on Tuesday, the Likud warned that Arab parties might receive as much as 15 seats, thus helping the Left unseat him. The party convened an emergency meeting.
VIDEO:
כשהם בובות זה מצחיק, אבל כשהם יהיו ראשי ממשלה זה יהיה ממש לא מצחיק. pic.twitter.com/t3R0tesrWA
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) September 17, 2019
Comedian Mendy Pellin’s take on Israel’s second national elections within a year
The Israeli government has never been more united. They are all scared of "the ultimate deal". They also heard Trump say that the deal will be released after elections. Which is why you'll see an endless cycle of elections. So #Israel!#israelelections2019
— Mendy Pellin (@MendyTV) September 16, 2019
Please go back and read through Crown Hts. Women for the Safety and Integrity of Israel’s flyer and kol koreh to Israeli voters. It’s no laughing matter that the Arabs are coming in with 15 Knesset seats or that Otzma Yehudit (who at the very least stood for Sovereignty and Pikuach Nefesh) did not pass the threshold. The one party that produced a well-thought our plan for resolving the problem of terrorism, the threat of war, applying sovereignty unconditionally and offering the Arabs in YESHA and in Israel a fair and equitable basket of options to decide their future vis… Read more »