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Israeli Election Night: Bennett Declares Netanyahu Defeated, Calls for New Government

Following the release of initial exit polls early on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett declared that Benjamin Netanyahu had lost the election and that the "October 7th government" would go home. Speaking from his party's headquarters in Tel Aviv, Bennett stated that leaders of the "correction bloc" are already coordinating to form a new "Zionist government of servants" to rebuild Israel after the war.

3 newsrooms · 2 languages · since 00:24

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Israeli Election Night: Bennett Declares Netanyahu Defeated, Calls for New Government — Illustration by baba

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What happened

01Naftali Bennett declared Benjamin Netanyahu defeated on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, stating the "October 7th government" would go home.
02Bennett announced that leaders of the "correction bloc" are coordinating to form a new "Zionist government of servants" without ego.
03According to Vesty, exit polls showed a 51-51 seat tie between the main blocs, with Arab parties winning 18 seats.
04Yair Lapid declared that the people of Israel had won and called for the immediate formation of a Zionist government.
05Gadi Eisenkot called Netanyahu a "temporary prime minister" and warned him not to use national security for political needs.
06Avigdor Lieberman called for an internal uprising within the Likud party to remove Netanyahu from leadership.
07Netanyahu's advisor Topaz Luk responded to the opposition's victory declarations by posting the single word "Patience."

According to Srugim, Bennett claimed the "evasion coalition" had collapsed from 68 to 50 mandates in the exit polls. While urging the public to wait patiently for the final vote count, Bennett and other opposition leaders expressed confidence in a political shift. Yair Lapid, second on the Be-Yahad list, declared that the people of Israel had won and saved themselves, echoing the call to form a Zionist government.

Other opposition figures also demanded change. Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot asserted that a Zionist majority opposed Netanyahu, whom he called a "temporary prime minister," and warned him not to use national security for political needs. Meanwhile, Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman called for an uprising within the Likud party to remove Netanyahu.

Exit polls reported by Vesty indicated a 51-51 seat tie between the main blocs, with Arab parties holding 18 seats. In response to the opposition's declarations, Netanyahu's advisor Topaz Luk posted a single word: "Patience."

Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated 07:32

Latest report: Vesty. Read Vesty’s original