Eisenkot Declares 'Change' After Election Night, Warns Netanyahu
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Gadi Eisenkot, leading the Yishar! party, declared victory on election night, presenting himself as the "next Prime Minister" and calling for Benjamin Netanyahu to resign. Exit polls indicated a close race between blocs, with Eisenkot's party emerging as the second-largest. Eisenkot vowed to form a "Zionist enlistment government" and warned Netanyahu against using national security for political gain. The results suggest a complex political landscape, potentially requiring a minority or unity government.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Gadi Eisenkot declared victory and presented himself as the "next Prime Minister" on election night.
- Exit polls showed a near-even split between political blocs, with Eisenkot's party as the second-largest.
- Eisenkot vowed to establish a "Zionist enlistment government" and urged Netanyahu to resign.
- He warned Prime Minister Netanyahu not to "dare to use Israel's security for your political needs."
- Eisenkot's party received approximately 21 seats in various exit polls.
- Analysts suggested Netanyahu might not be able to form a government, pointing to minority or unity options.
Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yishar! party, addressed supporters on election night, declaring "We made history" and that the public voted for change. Presented by announcer Rafi Ginat as "the next Prime Minister," Eisenkot stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had lost and that a "worthy leader" would have resigned. While acknowledging the results were preliminary, Eisenkot asserted Netanyahu faced a "large national consensus" against him.
Eisenkot emphasized that another election would be a "mistake" given the high voter turnout, and that his duty was to "do everything to fulfill the will of the people." Despite his bloc being short of the 61 seats needed for a majority according to exit polls, he promised to "act with all my might to establish a Zionist enlistment government," stating it was the people's will. Exit polls showed a near-even split between the blocs, with Arab parties projected to win 18 seats.
Addressing security and public service leaders, Eisenkot called Netanyahu an "interim prime minister without a mandate" and urged them to "stand strong and firm against any attempt to challenge you," offering his "clear backing." He directly warned Netanyahu, "Don't dare to use Israel's security for your political needs."
Eisenkot also spoke of ending the "era of evasion, failure, and lies" and the "us and them" mentality, promising to represent all segments of Israeli society and prove that the election was a "victory for the entire people of Israel." He thanked his family, including his son Gal, who was killed in Gaza, his mother Esther, and his grandchildren.
Eisenkot's Yishar! party received approximately 21 seats in various exit polls. He entered politics in 2022, served as a minister without portfolio in Netanyahu's government after October 7th, and formed Yishar! in August 2023 after leaving the National Unity party. His party had led in polls, and he had not ruled out forming a minority government, potentially with external support from Arab parties, though Avigdor Lieberman had previously rejected such a plan. Lieberman, however, did not commit to not relying on Arab party votes on election night.
Supporters at Eisenkot's Tel Aviv headquarters expressed hope for change, with one activist stating, "The hope of everyone was that there would be some change." Another activist noted the hard work to bring voters to the polls, expressing surprise at Netanyahu's continued support post-October 7th. Analysts suggested Netanyahu lacked the ability to form a government and that a minority government or a unity government might be the only options.
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