Netanyahu, Eisenkot stake rival claims to lead Israel after deadlocked vote

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and competitor Gadi Eisenkot laid opposing claims to lead Israel after Tuesday’s election, with Netanyahu calling for a right-wing coalition and Eisenkot saying voters had rejected the long-time Israeli leader, even as exit polls left their blocs deadlocked.

The projected result would be a setback for Mr Netanyahu and his nationalist-religious coalition, but the stalemate could work in his favour by enabling the 77-year-old to remain in office as caretaker prime minister during what are likely to be lengthy coalition talks, or even until another election can be held.

Exit polls by Kan 11 and Channel 13 saw the two blocs deadlocked at 51 seats each with votes still being counted, while Channel 12 gave a tiny 52-49 edge to Netanyahu’s Likud-led bloc. That left both sides shy of the 61 members needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset and neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot claimed victory.

The voting on Tuesday was the first election since the Hamas-led onslaught on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.

Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich are anticipated to hold a total of 13 seats in Netanyahu’s bloc, with no big advances for either of the far-right religious groups.

Arab parties outside the two main blocs could be the power brokers. But Yair Golan, the head of the Meretz party and a former military officer, has all but ruled out joining a government with them, complicating his route to power.

SECURITY WAR BOILS OVER

Addressing party faithful after 3 a.m. (0100 GMT) at Likud election headquarters in Jerusalem, Netanyah urged for the establishment of “a strong, right-wing national government.”

He also lauded Israel’s military victories and hinted at the possibility of further combined action with US President Donald Trump against Iran.Israel now has a historic opportunity with our ally President Trump to remove the existential menace of Iran once and for all.” But we must not be diverted from our precious mission by ulterior motives,” ​he said.

“The public voted against Netanyahu remaining prime minister,” Eisenkot stated, calling on him to quit politics and warning him not to sacrifice Israel’s security for political ends.

Netanyahu is a caretaker prime minister without a mandate or the trust of the people, Eisenkot said, calling on the security establishment to stand firm against any attempt to place political interests above Israel’s security.

Voter turnout was 77.7%, the highest in more than two decades and almost 7 percentage points more than in 2022, Israel’s Central Elections Committee stated.

Final results were expected Thursday or Friday. Israel’s divided political system makes smaller parties potential kingmakers in coalition negotiations that have lasted to weeks or months after earlier elections. If neither faction is able to form a government, another poll may have to be held, which Eisenkot was averse to given the huge voter turnout.

The exit polls were a big blow for Netanyahu’s coalition, said Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, but he warned that Eisenkot had not emerged as a clear winner and much may change as votes were tabulated.

The Israeli shekel weakened slightly on the inconclusive result.