Netanyahu went from ‘oy gevalt’ to celebrating a victory in just a few hours, and he’s on the way to building a solid coalition. How did he do it once again?

The mood on Tuesday evening was glum at the “Drive-In,” as the Heichal Shlomo Arena in north Tel Aviv is known, where the Likud’s end-of-elections event was held. Activists weren’t allowed in to cheer and wave their flags, and it was just hundreds of members of the local and foreign media with their cameras set up around the perimeter of the room, competing for the attention of a couple dozen Likud candidates.

The ministers, MKs and campaign officials walking from news crew to news crew expressed concern about low turnout and right-wing parties dropping below the threshold, hurting chances for a coalition. Continue reading