Netanyahu Cruises to Victory in Israeli Election

 

With 95 percent of the votes in, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is poised for another electoral victory. His Likud party is tied with its chief rival, Blue and White, but the right-wing bloc holds a clear lead. Netanyahu will work with them to form a governing coalition.

As of 11 PM ET, Likud had 26.28% of the vote compared to the Blue and White party’s 25.97%. From the Times of Israel:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared himself victorious in the 2019 general election Tuesday night, as updated exit polls and early results showed him with a clear path to forming a new government.

“I am very moved on this night,” he told exuberant supporters. “This is a night of an incredible, incredible victory.”

Though initial exit polls at 10 p.m. had shown Likud and Blue and White either even at 36 seats (Channel 13 and Kan) or with an advantage for Blue and White (37 to 33 on Channel 12), updated results accounting for the final hours of voting on both Channel 12 and 13 showed Likud leading 35 to 34.

And regardless of the horse race between the two major parties, the right-wing bloc was projected to win a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. The results mean Netanyahu will likely sweep back into power for an unprecedented fifth term, despite pending bribery and fraud indictments hanging over him.

That’s right: Netanyahu’s own Attorney General is about to indict him, but Israeli voters still preferred his leadership over the less conservative options. Congratulations, Bibi.

Published in Foreign Policy
Like this post? Want to comment? Join Ricochet’s community of conservatives and be part of the conversation. Join Ricochet for Free.

There are 14 comments.

Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.
  1. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    Jon Gabriel, Ed.: And regardless of the horse race between the two major parties, the right-wing bloc was projected to win a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. The results mean Netanyahu will likely sweep back into power for an unprecedented fifth term, despite pending bribery and fraud indictments hanging over him.

    Jon,

    The indictments have as much weight as “collusion”. Of course, they were perfectly timed so they could remain sealed until after the election. Nothing like trying to hang a dark cloud over things with a false accusation…hmmm, where have we seen that tactic before?

    It’s like the old saying, “You can fool some of the Israelis all of the time, and you can fool all of the Israelis some of the time but if you keep doing this the Israelis will finally give one good swift kick.” or words to that effect.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #1
  2. unsk2 Member
    unsk2
    @

    Thank God. 

    • #2
  3. Phil Turmel Inactive
    Phil Turmel
    @PhilTurmel

    Important good news from Israel.  First thing I looked at this morning, in fact.

    • #3
  4. ctlaw Coolidge
    ctlaw
    @ctlaw

    Likud would have done much better if Feiglin and Bennett/Shaked did not establish vanity parties.

    • #4
  5. WI Con Member
    WI Con
    @WICon

    ctlaw (View Comment):

    Likud would have done much better if Feiglin and Bennett/Shaked did not establish vanity parties.

    Unfortunately don’t know enough of Israeli politics but trust your observations – ecstatic that Bibi won again. Seems to be such an important era in the modern history of Israel – like Ben Gurion, Golda Meir. A distinct phase like the Thatcher or Reagan in that nation’s history that sets a course for decades to come.

     

    • #5
  6. RPD Inactive
    RPD
    @RPD

    Dictators are supposed to get 95% of the vote. He’s doing it wrong!

    • #6
  7. James Gawron Inactive
    James Gawron
    @JamesGawron

    ctlaw (View Comment):

    Likud would have done much better if Feiglin and Bennett/Shaked did not establish vanity parties.

    ct,

    So true. This is a subject that really deserves a long look at. Obviously, freedom is about free expression which includes the right to have an independent point of view. However, it is always a judgement call as to when the downside of that independent point of view is so great as to make it counterproductive. In this case, the election was very close with Feiglin and Bennett/Shaked sucking votes away from Likud. On top of that, with the threshold rule, all of those votes could be lost even to a coalition if Bennett/Shaked don’t make the threshold and receive zero seats.

    Everyone has a little vanity in them so you can’t make that such a serious crime especially when you’re talking politics. However, the price can be very high. A word to the wise.

    Regards,

    Jim

    • #7
  8. Kevin Schulte Member
    Kevin Schulte
    @KevinSchulte

    Excellent news. The cherry on  top of the win.

    Obama loses another. ;)

    • #8
  9. Matt Bartle Member
    Matt Bartle
    @MattBartle

    Not sure I’d call a .31% margin “cruising”!

    • #9
  10. ctlaw Coolidge
    ctlaw
    @ctlaw

    The real news is the destruction of the minor parties. The top two parties totalled 70, the most in over 20 years:

    In prior elections:

    2015 54

    2013 50

    2009 55

    2006 48

    2003 57

    1999 45

    1996 66

    1992 76

     

     

    • #10
  11. Henry Racette Member
    Henry Racette
    @HenryRacette

    Glad to hear it, and I hope his victory survives the final tabulation of absentee ballots (as seems likely).

    With any luck, the Beresheet lander will touch down tomorrow afternoon, a nice welcome for the returning Prime Minister.

    • #11
  12. Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo… Coolidge
    Gumby Mark (R-Meth Lab of Demo…
    @GumbyMark

    You may find the article linked via this tweet of interest:

    • #12
  13. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    This was great news – the media portrayed him as finished – spiritually speaking, amazing things are happening across the world – this is one of the good things. 

    • #13
  14. aardo vozz Member
    aardo vozz
    @aardovozz

    James Gawron (View Comment

    Everyone has a little vanity in them so you can’t make that such a serious crime especially when you’re talking politics. However, the price can be very high. A word to the wise.

    Regards,

    Jim

    Yes. A word to the wise. Unfortunately, we are talking about politicians.

    <sarcasm off >

    <cynicism always on >

    • #14
Become a member to join the conversation. Or sign in if you're already a member.