Bennett Declares Victory, Claims Netanyahu Lost Despite Conflicting Polls
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett declared Benjamin Netanyahu defeated and his "alliance of the servers" victorious following Israeli elections, despite conflicting exit polls. Channel 14's updated polls projected a right-wing bloc victory with 62 seats, enabling government formation, while Bennett's party was slated for 11 seats. Yair Lapid, Bennett's partner, later stated Israel had "saved itself" and declared Netanyahu's defeat, calling for a Zionist government. One poll indicated Avigdor Lieberman's party might not pass the electoral threshold.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Naftali Bennett declared Netanyahu defeated and his "alliance of the servers" victorious in Israeli elections.
- Updated exit polls projected a right-wing bloc victory with 62 seats, enabling government formation.
- Bennett's party, Together, was projected to win only 11 seats in the updated polls.
- Yair Lapid stated Israel had "saved itself" and declared Netanyahu's defeat, calling for a Zionist government.
- One poll showed Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party falling below the electoral threshold.
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett declared victory and proclaimed Benjamin Netanyahu's defeat even before official election results were finalized. Speaking at the headquarters of his Together party, Bennett announced that "the October 7th government will go home" and celebrated the "alliance of the servers" as the winner. He also claimed that leaders of the "correction bloc" were already coordinating to form a new government and expressed warm gratitude to his partner Yair Lapid, though Lapid was not present on stage.
However, Bennett's pronouncements contrasted sharply with updated exit polls from Channel 14. These polls indicated a different outcome, projecting the right-wing bloc would secure 62 seats, sufficient to form a government, while Bennett's party was projected to win only 11 seats. The polls showed Netanyahu's Likud party receiving 31 seats and Gadi Eisenkot's Yesh Atid party securing 20 seats.
Bennett's speech emphasized a narrative of "the alliance of the servers" defeating "the alliance of draft dodgers," asserting that "the people of Israel stood up and spoke their minds: Netanyahu has lost." He also claimed the "evasion coalition" had collapsed from 68 to 50 seats, a claim made as vote counting was just beginning.
Despite Bennett's claims of coordination, Yair Lapid did not appear with him. Bennett specifically thanked Lapid, calling him a "leader, an Israeli patriot, a true friend." He pledged to form a "Zionist alliance of servers government, a government of doers, that will manage the state responsibly and serve all the people of Israel."
Bennett also reflected on his campaign interactions, promising to bring a spirit of direct communication and brotherly love to national leadership. He thanked his wife, family, party members, campaign staff, volunteers, and their families for their extensive efforts, describing the campaign as unprecedented in Israeli history.
Meanwhile, Lapid, speaking later, stated, "The State of Israel saved itself. This is a complete defeat for Netanyahu. We are the majority. A Zionist government must be established." He acknowledged the potential government might not be perfect initially but could be expanded later. Notably, one poll update showed Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party falling below the electoral threshold.
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