Eisenkot Declares End of 'Draft Evasion Era' After Election
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael! party, declared victory from Tel Aviv, asserting Israelis voted against Prime Minister Netanyahu's continued leadership. Despite exit polls, Eisenkot stated the public decided for change and that a "Zionist majority" rejected the current government. He vowed to form a stable Zionist government based on principles including universal conscription and dismantling Hamas, urging security officials to disregard Netanyahu's mandate.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Gadi Eisenkot declared victory, claiming Israelis voted against Prime Minister Netanyahu.
- Eisenkot vowed to form a stable Zionist government representing all Israelis.
- The proposed government would uphold principles including universal conscription.
- Eisenkot urged security officials to disregard Netanyahu's mandate.
- He proclaimed the end of "draft evasion, failure, and lies" in Israeli politics.
Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael! party, delivered a victory speech from his party's Tel Aviv headquarters, despite exit polls indicating Benjamin Netanyahu's lead. Eisenkot proclaimed, "We made history! The public decided in favor of change. The failure coalition has lost the people's trust," asserting that Israelis voted against Netanyahu continuing as Prime Minister. He stated that Netanyahu faces a "large and strong Zionist majority" and that a "worthy leader would accept the people's vote of no confidence and announce his resignation from political life today."
Eisenkot emphasized that with high voter turnout, calling for new elections would be a mistake. "Our duty and my personal duty is to do everything to respect the will of the people," he said. He also declared, "Millions of Israelis are fed up with the culture of lies, fed up with failure, fed up with division and incitement, tonight begins the path that must end with the establishment of a Zionist government."
He pledged that the Yisrael! party would represent all Israelis and work to ensure the people's decision is realized in forming a stable Zionist government. Eisenkot outlined core principles for this government: recognition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, commitment to the values of the Declaration of Independence, a commitment to passing a universal conscription law, and a commitment to dismantling Hamas.
Addressing security and public service leaders, Eisenkot called Netanyahu a "transitional prime minister without a mandate or trust." He urged them to serve only the state and its citizens, to stand firm against challenges, and assured them of his support. He warned Netanyahu not to use Israel's security for political gain.
Concluding his remarks, Eisenkot reiterated, "The era of draft evasion, failure, and lies is over. The era of 'us' and 'them' is over. We will prove that this is not a victory of one side over another, but a victory for the entire people of Israel. Israel is on its way to a new era. An era of hope, mutual responsibility, and camaraderie."
