Arutz ShevaPolitics22:29

Opposition Celebrates Election Polls, Minister Warns of Arab Party Alliance

By חזקי ברוך

Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba

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Hebrew · 7 newsrooms covering

Opposition leaders celebrated election poll results indicating a weakening of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc, calling for an alternative government. Gadi Eisenkot vowed to immediately work on forming a new government, while Yair Lapid declared Netanyahu's bloc had suffered a "harsh defeat." Minister Miki Zohar warned opposition leaders against forming a government with Arab parties, predicting their political demise. Polls showed neither bloc reaching the 61-seat majority needed to form a government, leaving the outcome uncertain.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Opposition leaders celebrated election polls, calling for an alternative government to replace Netanyahu.
Gadi Eisenkot vowed to immediately work on forming a new government based on poll results.
Yair Lapid declared Netanyahu's bloc suffered a "harsh defeat" and the public wants them out.
Minister Miki Zohar warned opposition leaders against relying on Arab parties for a coalition.
Initial polls showed neither bloc reaching the 61-seat majority required to form a government.

Opposition Celebrates Election Polls, Minister Warns of Arab Party Alliance — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Opposition leaders reacted enthusiastically to election polls released Tuesday, interpreting them as a significant blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc and calling for the formation of an alternative government.

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the National Unity Party, stated that the initial results indicate a complete lack of confidence in Netanyahu and the current government. He pledged to act immediately to form a new government, which he described as a "Zionist enlistment government" as soon as possible.

Yair Lapid, chairman of Yesh Atid, declared that Netanyahu's bloc had suffered a "harsh defeat" and that the public had "told them to go home." He called for the immediate formation of a "real change government."

Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats, viewed the poll results as a "historic opportunity" for the opposition to replace the government. He urged political partners to cooperate, bridge differences, and take responsibility, emphasizing that the public had spoken and it was now time for the opposition to act.

MK Naama Lazimi of the Democrats also presented the results as a public vote of no confidence, stating that Netanyahu's bloc had lost nearly 20 mandates and that the public had rejected "Qatar, evasion, and neglect." She called for political courage to implement the voters' will for change.

Conversely, Minister of Culture and Sport Miki Zohar of the Likud warned opposition leaders against attempting to form a government reliant on Arab parties. "If Eisenkot, Lieberman, and Bennett try to form a government with the Arab parties, it will be their political end in a very short time," Zohar stated, adding that "the public will not forgive or forget."

Initial polls from Channel 12, Channel 13, and Kan News projected Netanyahu's bloc with only 50 seats, while Channel 14's poll gave the right-wing bloc 60 seats. Crucially, none of the blocs reached the 61-seat majority required to form a government, leaving the political landscape uncertain as vote counting progresses.