Netanyahu happy with local elections in Israel: “The right-wing bloc across the country has become stronger”

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According to media reports, there are signs of gains for strictly religious and right-wing extremist parties in local elections in Israel, which are currently taking place despite military operations.

Preliminary results indicate an “unprecedented majority” of ultra-Orthodox forces in the Jerusalem municipal council, the Times of Israel reported on Wednesday. The reason for this is that ultra-Orthodox people voted in large numbers, while other groups stayed away from the polls. The strictly religious make up about 13 percent of Israel’s nearly ten million inhabitants.

Elections have been postponed twice due to war

According to the newspaper, only just under 50 percent of the more than seven million citizens nationwide called to vote cast their votes on Tuesday – fewer than usual in local elections in Israel. Due to the war in Gaza, which has been going on for almost five months, a low turnout was already expected.

According to the media, it also became clear in Jerusalem that right-wing conservative mayor Moshe Lion would remain in office as expected. According to the Haaretz newspaper, the coastal cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa remain “liberal strongholds” in the country. In Tel Aviv, former Economy Minister Orna Barbivai congratulated her rival Ron Chuldai on her victory. Chuldai was mayor of the coastal metropolis for many years.

Voting in 241 places called on people to elect mayors, city council members and city council members. The official final results are not expected until next week. The elections had already been postponed twice due to the Gaza war.

Netanyahu speaks of “great victory”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing conservative Likud party spoke of a “major victory” for them in the elections. Thanks to the party, several places in the country have moved to the right, it said in a statement. “The right-wing bloc across the country has become stronger.” According to Haaretz, a Likud candidate with right-wing extremist views also won the mayoral election in a city in the Negev Desert.

According to the media, the question is whether the results can also provide information about voting behavior in possible House of Representatives elections. According to surveys, Netanyahu’s right-wing religious coalition should expect huge losses in new elections.

By far the strongest faction would currently be the party of Benny Gantz, minister in the war cabinet. At the local level, however, his moderate center-right alliance is, according to Israeli media reports, not as well positioned and less experienced than Netanyahu’s party. (SDA)

Source: Blick