Eisenkot: High Turnout Makes New Elections a Mistake
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the "Yashar!" party, declared that high voter turnout indicated a public desire for change and that further elections would be a mistake. Opposition leaders, including Yair Lapid and "Benet," claimed victory and began coordinating to form a government. Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition faced challenges, with some parties like "Otzma Yehudit" and "Yisrael Beiteinu" pointing to potential shifts from soldiers' votes. The exit polls suggested a difficult path for the current coalition.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Gadi Eisenkot stated that holding new elections with high turnout would be a mistake and vowed to form a Zionist enlistment government.
- Opposition leaders declared victory and began coordinating to form a government, calling it a win for the "alliance of those who serve."
- Exit polls indicated a challenging outcome for the current coalition, with one party failing to pass the threshold.
- Avigdor Lieberman and Bezalel Smotrich suggested that votes from soldiers and reservists could significantly alter the final results.
- Yair Lapid discussed the possibility of forming a minority government if necessary.
Following the release of all exit poll results, party leaders addressed their supporters across the country. The coalition bloc expressed hope that the final results would favor them, despite initial poll indications. The opposition bloc declared victory.
Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the "Yashar!" party, stated that the public had voted for change and that holding further elections with such high voter turnout would be a mistake. He pledged to do everything possible to form a Zionist enlistment government committed to democratic and Jewish principles, the Declaration of Independence, universal service, and the dismantling of Hamas. Eisenkot also addressed security officials and Prime Minister Netanyahu, asserting that Netanyahu is a transitional prime minister without a mandate and urging security forces to serve only the citizens of Israel and resist political pressure. He declared an end to evasion, failure, lies, and division, envisioning a new era of hope, mutual responsibility, and camaraderie.
Leaders from the opposition bloc also spoke. The chairman of the "Achdut" party, identified as "Benet" in the source, announced coordination among opposition leaders to form a government, framing it as a victory for the "alliance of those who serve" over the "alliance of evaders." He vowed to form a Zionist government of doers without ego. Yair Lapid, number two in the party, discussed the possibility of a minority government, stating that the side with more votes has the duty to form one, even if it requires future adjustments. Itamar Ben-Gvir, chairman of "Otzma Yehudit," expressed belief in the Channel 14 poll, which showed the coalition bloc with 60 seats, and confidence in the right's ability to form a government. Avigdor Lieberman of "Yisrael Beiteinu" highlighted the potential impact of double envelopes (votes from soldiers and reservists), estimating 14-15 seats, which could significantly alter the results. Bezalel Smotrich of "Religious Zionism and Identity" also pointed to soldiers' votes as a potential factor that could increase his party's seat count from an initial seven.
Exit polls from i24NEWS and Direct Polls indicated a significant shift, with the coalition bloc receiving 55 mandates and the "Winter" party not passing the electoral threshold. Other reports discussed scenarios for forming the next government and reactions from various parties.
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