Right-Wing Activist Blames Failed Party for Election Setback

Exit polls released Tuesday indicate a significant shift in the political landscape, with Gadi Eisenkot's bloc leading and the "change bloc" surpassing the right-wing bloc in three major networks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party is projected to win between 24 and 30 seats, while Arab parties are surging to 16-18 seats. Religious parties appear to have weakened in some projections.

Screenwriter and prominent right-wing activist Meni Assayag criticized Ofer Winter, chairman of the "Amcha Israel" party, after it failed to pass the electoral threshold. Assayag stated on his X account that without Winter's "delusional party," the right would have defeated the left. He described Winter as an "irresponsible, almost negligent" individual who "almost sacrificed an entire country on the altar of his megalomania." Assayag expressed hope for a "complete victory" in the second round of voting if necessary.

Exit poll results varied across networks. Channel 13 projected 25 seats for the ruling party and 23 for Eisenkot's party. Channel 14 showed Likud with 30 seats and Eisenkot's party with 19. Channel 11's poll indicated 25 seats for the ruling party and 21 for Eisenkot's "Yashar" party.

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of "Yashar!", interpreted the initial poll results as a "complete lack of confidence in Netanyahu and the government of October 7th." He declared it a victory for the "state-national majority" and vowed to "immediately work to implement the will of the people, to replace the Netanyahu government, and to establish a Zionist conscription government as soon as possible."

Yair Golan, head of the Democrats, stated that the public "fired the Netanyahu government" and that a "historic opportunity" exists to form a "true change government." He pledged to do everything possible to ensure such a government is formed, expressing readiness to work with all partners and bridge differences.