Eisenkot Declares Victory, Calls for New Government

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, delivered a victory speech at the party's Tel Aviv headquarters after 1 AM, following the release of election results. The event was introduced by Rafi Ginat, Maccabi Tel Aviv's legendary announcer, who brought the party's slate to the stage. Eisenkot's speech, initially intended for a clear win, was delivered as preliminary results showed a tightening race, with the Likud party narrowing the gap and the right-wing bloc potentially reaching a tie or slight advantage. Despite the shifting projections, Eisenkot declared, "We made history! The public has decided in favor of change. The failure coalition has lost the people's trust. The Israeli public voted against Netanyahu's continued tenure as Prime Minister." He asserted that Netanyahu faced a "large and strong national Zionist majority" and that a "worthy leader" would resign. Eisenkot opposed further elections, stating it would be a mistake given the high voter turnout, and emphasized his commitment to honoring the public's will by forming a "Zionist government." He criticized the current political culture, citing "millions of Israelis are fed up with the culture of lies, fed up with failure, fed up with division and incitement." Eisenkot outlined his vision for a new government based on principles including recognizing Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, upholding the Declaration of Independence, enacting a universal conscription law, and dismantling Hamas. He also directly addressed security and public service leaders, calling them to disregard instructions from Netanyahu, whom he described as a "transitional prime minister without a mandate or trust." Eisenkot pledged his support to them and warned Netanyahu against using Israel's security for political gain. He concluded by proclaiming the end of an era of "evasion, failure, and lies," and the beginning of a "new era" for Israel characterized by "hope, mutual responsibility, and camaraderie."