Obama key factor for Netanyahu voter: "Most important, he stood up to President Obama."-NY Times

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"In the Jerusalem suburb of Tzur Hadassah, Eli Paniri, 54, a longtime Likud supporter, said he “voted for the only person who should be prime minister: Netanyahu.”

“I am not ashamed of this,” Mr. Paniri said after weeks of Netanyahu-bashing from all sides. “He is a strong man and, most important, he stood up to President Obama.”" (end of article)

3/17/15. "Netanyahu Soundly Defeats Chief Rival in Israeli Elections," NY Times, Jodi Rudoren, "Reporting was contributed by Irit Pazner Garshowitz from Tzur Hadassah, Israel, and Tel Aviv; Isabel Kershner, Myra Noveck and Carol Sutherland from Jerusalem; Michael D. Shear from Washington; Diaa Hadid from the West Bank; Rina Castelnuovo from Beit Zayit, Israel; and Gabby Sobelman from Rehovot, Israel." page A1, 3/18 print ed.

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3/18/15, "LIVE BLOG: Likud cements victory with nearly all votes counted," Haaretz

"Netanyahu's party set to win 29 votes, Zionist Union gets 24; Netanyahu calls for 'strong' government to safeguard security, welfare • 'Kingmaker' Kahlon says doesn't rule anyone out."

"With nearly all votes counted, Benjamin Netanyahu's Lkud party is set to emerge as the election's big winner with 29 seats. The Zionist Union trails behind with 24 seats. The Joint List of Arab parties is the third-largest party at this point, followed by Yesh Atid, Kulanu, Habayit Hayehudi, Shas, Yisrael Beiteinu, United Torah Judaism, Meretz and Yahad. 

President Reuven Rivlin said he would work for a national unity government.  

Ballots were cast at 10,372 polling stations throughout Israel. There are 5,881,696 Israelis (citizens over the age of 18) who were eligible to vote today for the 20th Knesset.  

Live updates:
 
4:44 A.M. With 99.5 percent of the ballots counted, Likud is increasing its lead with 29 Knesset seats, compared to the Zionist Union's 24.  

The Joint List, the third-largest party, gets 14 seats, followed by Yesh Atid with 11, Kulanu with 10, Habayit Hayehudi with eight, Shas and United Torah Judaism with seven each, Yisrael Beiteinu with six, and Meretz with four. It appears at this point that Yahad has not crossed the electoral threshold. (Haaretz) 

4:30 A.M. Likud increases its lead over the Zionist Union as the vote count nears completion. (Haaretz)"...


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