Christian Headlines Blog Christian Blog and Commentary

Get guidance on Bible study from C.S. Lewis - Free Course!

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Wins Election for Third Term

  • Carrie Dedrick Religious persecution, missions, Christianity around the world
  • Updated Mar 18, 2015

Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu scored a victory in Tuesday’s election to secure his third consecutive term as Prime Minister. Netanyahu additionally served one three-year term from 1996 to 1999. 

The New York Times reports that an Israeli news outlet declared Netanyahu’s victory for the Likud party Wednesday morning when 99.5 percent of votes had been counted. Though previous polls showed a close race between Netanyahu and his chief rival, Isaac Herzog of the Zionist Union party, Netanyahu swept his competition, winning at least 29 seats of the 120 seats in the Knesset, or Israel’s Parliament. 

Now, Netanyahu is required to form a coalition government, obtaining the majority 61 seats in the Knesset. The Prime Minister has 28 days to obtain the seats before he begins his fourth term in the position. 

According to the New York Times, Netanyahu celebrated the “huge victory.” 

“I am proud of the Israeli people that, in the moment of truth, knew how to separate between what’s important or what’s not and to stand up for what’s important,” he said in a speech Wednesday morning. “For the most important thing for all of us, which is real security, social economy and strong leadership.”

Publication date: March 18, 2015