Israeli Elections Marked by Dramatic Late Swings and Upset Victories
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
Israeli elections are known for dramatic late shifts in results, with fortunes often reversing until the final ballot is counted. Key historical examples include the 1977 election ending decades of Alignment rule, and the 1996 election where Benjamin Netanyahu narrowly defeated Shimon Peres. The 2015 election also saw a significant late swing, proving that final results, not polls, determine the outcome.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli elections often feature dramatic late results until the final ballot is counted.
- The 1977 election marked a historic shift, ending decades of Alignment rule.
- In 1996, Benjamin Netanyahu narrowly defeated Shimon Peres after key events shifted momentum.
- The 2015 election also saw a significant late swing away from initial poll leads.
- Final results, not polls or exit polls, ultimately determine election outcomes in Israel.
Israeli elections have historically been characterized by dramatic shifts in results until the very last ballot is counted, often leading to unexpected outcomes and significant political upheavals. These "white nights," as they are known, have seen fortunes reversed from victory celebrations to crushing defeats.
The 1977 election night is cited as a pivotal moment, marking the end of three decades of Mapai and Alignment party rule and ushering in Menachem Begin's Likud party. This election fundamentally altered the country's political landscape.
Another closely contested election occurred in 1996, just six months after the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. Shimon Peres, Rabin's successor, was initially favored to win. However, two key events shifted the momentum. An Israeli artillery strike in Cana, Lebanon, that killed over 100 civilians during Operation Grapes of Wrath, diminished Arab support for Peres. Concurrently, the assassination of Yahya Ayyash, known as "the Engineer," triggered a wave of terrorist attacks in Israel, bringing security concerns and the future of the Oslo Accords to the forefront of public discourse.
Despite Peres leading in the polls and initial exit polls, Benjamin Netanyahu secured his first term as prime minister by a narrow margin of approximately 30,000 votes as the final results came in.
In the 2015 elections, Benjamin Netanyahu faced Yitzhak Herzog, whose joint leadership with Tzipi Livni had given their camp a consistent lead in polls. However, an election-day video significantly altered the race, and by 10 PM exit polls showed the lead had evaporated. The article emphasizes that while polls and exit polls can offer predictions and surprises, only the final results determine the true winners and losers, highlighting the unpredictable nature of Israeli politics until the very end.
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