Eisenkot and Netanyahu Claim Victory in Stalemate

Dawn broke over Israel on Wednesday morning with the national election results still unresolved.

Exit polls released by major television stations indicated that neither Benjamin Netanyahu’s political bloc nor that of former military chief Gadi Eisenkot secured the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority. Official data from the Central Elections Committee showed that with 60% of votes counted, Likud held 21.4% of the vote while Eisenkot’s Yashar party captured 16.2%. The lack of a clear winner signals a prolonged period of negotiation among parties to form a governing coalition.

The inconclusive outcome arrives as the country remains divided over leadership and the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. President Isaac Herzog, whose role is largely ceremonial until this moment, must now select a leader to attempt government formation. Although Likud holds the highest vote count, Herzog is not required to choose Netanyahu. Some observers argue that appointing another figure might ease the coalition process given the deep polarization surrounding the current government.

Arab parties performed strongly in the election, creating a potential path to power for either bloc. A left-leaning analysis in Haaretz warned that excluding these parties from a governing coalition could harm the democratic identity of the state. Netanyahu addressed supporters in Jerusalem past 3 a.m. Wednesday, touting his military achievements and pledging to finish the war against Iran. He explicitly stated that no government should rely on Arab parties, a message directed at his rivals who may need their support to reach a majority.

In Tel Aviv, Eisenkot celebrated the results as a referendum on leadership. He pledged to form a government and promised a new era of hope for Israelis. "Today, Israel went out to a referendum over the leadership that will lead Israel in the coming years," he told cheering supporters. "The people decided in favor of change." Both campaign headquarters maintained a celebratory mood, reflecting the uncertainty of the days ahead.

U.S. President Donald Trump disputed the narrative of a potential defeat for Netanyahu. Speaking at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland after returning from Texas, Trump said he had heard that Netanyahu "did pretty well." He noted it was too early to speak with the Israeli leader but emphasized their close ties. Meanwhile, the Israeli military reported a turnout of 79.9% among its personnel, an increase of more than six percentage points from the previous election. Some polling stations were located in combat areas.

The election process was marked by a security incident in Belgrade, Serbia. Serbian police reported that an unidentified assailant attacked a guard outside the Israeli Embassy with knives and was killed. Interior Minister Ivica Dacic described the attacker as a minor shouting "Allahu Akbar" and said the police officer killed him in self-defense. Serbia raised its terror threat level to the highest status and increased police presence at key locations.