Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot declared on Wednesday that the political career of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had come to an end. Speaking to supporters at his Yashar party headquarters in Tel Aviv early Wednesday, Eisenkot asserted that Israelis had voted for change at the ballot box.
"It would be a mistake to hold another election, and it is my duty to do everything possible to carry out the will of the people," Eisenkot said. He pledged to work alongside his political partners to establish a new government representing all sections of Israeli society.
While acknowledging that final election results were still pending, Eisenkot stated that Netanyahu already faced a larger and stronger Zionist majority opposed to his continued rule. He also directed a warning at the prime minister regarding national security.
"Do not dare use Israel’s security for your political needs," Eisenkot said. He appealed to security chiefs to remember their fundamental duty to the public, noting that Netanyahu currently headed a caretaker administration.
"Remember that you serve only the interests of Israel’s citizens," Eisenkot told security leaders, urging them to resist any pressure and offering his backing. He declared that the period of division and incitement had concluded and promised a government focused on military conscription.
Eisenkot’s remarks followed the release of updated television exit polls. Channel 13 projected Netanyahu’s bloc and the opposition bloc led by Eisenkot tied at 51 seats each. Arab parties secured 18 seats in the 120-seat Knesset.
An earlier projection by Channel 12 gave Eisenkot’s bloc 52 seats, compared to 50 for Netanyahu and 18 for Arab parties. Neither projection granted either major bloc the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority.
Channel 12 also reported that President Isaac Herzog was expected to task Eisenkot with forming the next government. That decision is contingent on official results and consultations with parliamentary parties.
Voter turnout reached 77.7 percent, according to figures released by the Central Elections Committee. This figure marked the highest turnout since 1999 and represented a 7.1 percentage point increase from the 2022 general election.
Polling stations closed at 10 pm local time on Tuesday, at which point vote counting began. Broadcasters stressed that exit polls are projections rather than official tallies.
The Central Elections Committee stated that official election results are scheduled to be announced on November 4.
