WEDNESDAY 4 MARCH 2020Third time lucky as Bibi pulls
election out of the hat
‘Magician’ Netanyahu tops poll despite impending court case
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu smiles after the exit poll (AP)
BEL TREW
IN TEL AVIV
Just a few months ago, after the last election, Israel’s longest serving prime minister stood marooned on
stage at the Likud headquarters in Tel Aviv to address a half-empty hall. There were more stale sandwiches
on abandoned platters then there were audience members to eat them.
He had campaigned so hard his voice was hoarse. His vow to form a government fell as flat as the
expressions on people’s faces.