Preliminary exit polls point to a possible shift in the task of forming Israel’s next government to Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot, amid indications of a decline in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s camp. Israeli media outlets, however, differ in their estimates of seat distribution and the balance of power between the political blocs.
Israel’s Channel 12 said the preliminary results suggest that Eisenkot is highly likely to be tasked with forming the next government. It reported that Netanyahu’s Likud party won 24 seats, compared with 22 for Yashar and 12 for Naftali Bennett’s party. Eisenkot’s bloc was projected to hold 52 seats in the Knesset, compared with 50 for Netanyahu’s camp and 18 for the Arab parties.
Citing estimates, the channel added that the results could lead Israeli President Isaac Herzog to task Eisenkot with forming the next government. However, the final decision will depend on the official election results and the recommendations submitted by the heads of parliamentary blocs.
In his first reaction to the results, Eisenkot said, according to Israel Hayom, that the preliminary figures showed, in his words, “a lack of absolute confidence in Netanyahu and the October 7 government.” He added that, if confirmed, the results would represent a victory for what he described as Israel’s “official Zionist majority.”
Eisenkot said he intended to act immediately on the voters’ will, replace Netanyahu’s government and form what he called a “Zionist conscription government” as soon as possible.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said Netanyahu’s camp had suffered a “crushing defeat,” arguing that the results reflected its “total collapse.” He added that the public had told Netanyahu: “Go home.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, meanwhile, said celebrations on the left were premature, arguing that the clearest takeaway was that Likud remained the largest party.
Channel 12 quoted Ahmad Tibi, head of the Joint List, as saying he hoped Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, along with what he called the “government of blood,” would be sent home. Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats party, also said the public had made its decision and dismissed Netanyahu’s government.
Offering a different reading of the results, Israel’s Channel 14, which is close to Netanyahu, reported that the right-wing bloc had secured 60 seats, compared with 43 for the left and 17 for the Arab parties.
The channel added that Netanyahu had told close associates he intended to seek to form the next government, describing a government involving the left and Arab parties as, in his words, a “terror government.”
The figures cited are preliminary media estimates and should not be treated as official election results.
