The people have spoken

Israel is a vibrant, sometime raucous, parliamentary democracy. This has been on display for all to see over a tumultuous election season. After months and months of polls and predictions, on Tuesday, the people of Israel had their say, the only say that matters.

The people of Israel have spoken and told the world they want Prime Minister Netanyahu to lead the Government of the State of Israel for another term.

By re-electing the Prime Minister for an unprecedented fifth term, and electing the Likud to again form the government, the people have spoken loud and clear about the future they want for the country. The people have chosen a strong, right wing leader, because they know only the right will move the economy forward and keep their children safe.

The people of Israel have spoken and made clear they do not want a Palestinian state in the heartland of the Land of Israel. They have said that while they do not want to rule over the daily lives of the Palestinians, Israel must maintain overall security control from the Mediterranean Sea to the Jordan River in perpetuity.

The people have spoken, and they want the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria strengthened, not torn down.

The people of Israel have spoken, and they want strong national leadership that confronts the threats of Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas and anyone else foolish enough to challenge us. They chose strength over appeasement.

The people of Israel have spoken, and they chose the one leader on the ballot with the requisite skills to continue strengthening Israel’s ties in Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

The people of Israel have spoken, and they want us to continue working with the Arab world, behind the scenes when necessary, and in public when possible. We have an historic opportunity with our neighbors, and it was obvious to the people that only one leader, with a strong Likud team behind him, had the experience and ability to move those relationships forward.

The people of Israel have spoken, and have said loud and clear that they want a leader with the ability to forge friendships with the leaders of the greatest powers in the world, but also the fortitude to stand up to any leader when it is in the best interest of the state of Israel.

Over the coming days and weeks, I am confident there will be voices telling Israel we got it wrong. People telling us that we should have chosen differently. To those voices, I say that the people of Israel have the absolute right to choose our leadership, just as the people of every democracy have the right to choose their leadership. I don’t ask that you agree with us, it is perfectly within the right of any person to have any opinion they want. However, I do expect that just as we respect every other democracy, you respect our democracy, and fundamental to that respect is accepting it is our right to choose our leadership.

The people of Israel have spoken and decided – we want the Likud party and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to lead the State of Israel.