Israeli opposition leaders have declared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government politically defeated after exit polls indicated that his ruling coalition had fallen short of securing a parliamentary majority in the country’s closely contested election.
Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the opposition Yashar party, described the preliminary figures as a rejection of Netanyahu’s administration, particularly its handling of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack and the conflicts that followed.
Eisenkot said he would move quickly to form a new government if the exit-poll projections were confirmed by the final results. He called for a government capable of addressing national security concerns and restoring public confidence in political leadership.
Former prime minister Yair Lapid also criticised Netanyahu’s coalition, describing the projections as a major setback for the ruling bloc. He urged opposition supporters not to underestimate the significance of the preliminary figures.
Meanwhile, former defence minister Benny Gantz called for mainstream political parties to work towards forming a broad unity government. He argued that the election results offered an opportunity to move beyond the country’s entrenched political divisions.
Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats, similarly said the opposition had an opportunity to establish a new administration.
Arab political factions also highlighted their potential influence in coalition negotiations. Joint List leader Yousef Jabareen said Arab lawmakers could not be excluded from discussions about the country’s political future, while United Arab List leader Mansour Abbas pledged to use his party’s parliamentary representation to influence policy.
However, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar dismissed the opposition’s celebrations as premature, stressing that Netanyahu’s Likud remained Israel’s largest party.
With neither major bloc projected to secure the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-member Knesset, coalition negotiations are expected to determine the next government. Final election results will be crucial in establishing whether Netanyahu can retain power or the opposition can assemble an alternative administration.
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