Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival, Gadi Eisenkot, maintained their right to lead Israel following the elections that took place yesterday (Tuesday, October 27, 2026), as Netanyahu called for the formation of a right-wing government, while Eisenkot said that the voters rejected the veteran Israeli leader, but opinion polls upon exiting the polls showed the two blocs tied.
Tuesday witnessed a massive turnout of voters, the highest in decades, to cast their votes in a referendum on Netanyahu’s rule, the longest of his tenure as prime minister in Israel, which pushed the country towards the extreme right and launched a series of wars in response to the Hamas attack. Opinion polls when voters left the polling stations showed a strong rapprochement between the coalitions of Eisenkot, a former military commander who recently entered the political arena, and the extreme right-wing Netanyahu, as neither of them was able to approach the threshold of a parliamentary majority.
Both parties seek to form a government majority
Netanyahu pledged at dawn on Wednesday to form a new government, saying that "the Jewish and Zionist majority must unite." The 77-year-old Prime Minister's speech was unusually brief, and he did not explicitly announce his victory. Instead, he reviewed the names of leaders that Israel liquidated on his orders. He also hinted again at his readiness to launch a third bombing campaign against Iran in cooperation with his ally, US President Donald Trump. “Israel has a unique opportunity with our partner, President Trump, to eliminate forever the existential threat posed by Iran,” Netanyahu told reporters, days after threatening a new bombing campaign against the Islamic Republic.
For his part, Eisenkot, in a speech to his supporters in Tel Aviv, issued a veiled warning to Netanyahu, who observers believe may exploit the state of war to push for the formation of a national unity government. Addressing Netanyahu, Eisenkot said, “Don’t you dare exploit Israel’s security to serve your political interests,” likely referring to his threats to launch new strikes against Iran. In a letter addressed to the Israeli security establishment, Eisenkot stressed that they serve the state, not Netanyahu, whom he described as "a caretaker prime minister who lacks the mandate and the trust of the people."
"People voted for change"
Eisenkot's political positions are not very different from Netanyahu's positions. He pledged to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, expressed his support for Israeli settlements, and supported the attack on Gaza in the wake of October 7, which turned the Strip into rubble. But he pledged to create a more inclusive atmosphere inside Israel and to rein in extremist settlers in the West Bank who have attacked Palestinians with impunity. After a participation rate of nearly 78%, the highest since 1999, Eisenkot stressed that it would be "a mistake to go to another round of elections," pledging to work "quickly" to form a government.
He said that Israel "chose change," adding that "a worthy leader will accept the people's vote of no confidence and announce today his withdrawal from political life." He pointed out that the first results of the poll show a "lack of confidence" in Netanyahu, who did not immediately make statements, but few expect him to surrender.
The results are very close and the Arab regulations are presented
The results of the three main television channels showed that Channels 11 and 13 give each coalition 51 seats, a number that is not enough for either of them to achieve a majority, while Channel 12 still gives preference to the opposition led by Eisenkot. Expectations indicate that the Arab lists in Israel will win between 17 and 18 seats, which is a major gain for them, as some Arab communities inside Israel witnessed participation rates that approached consensus, driven by a state of anger over the rhetoric adopted by Netanyahu’s far-right allies against the Arabs and which is characterized by contempt.
The head of the United Arab List, Mansour Abbas, considered that the right had “suffered a huge loss,” expressing his openness to working with Eisenkot. But Eisenkot said during the election campaign that he would not participate in government with Israeli Arab legislators, while Netanyahu said that no leader could rule depending on the support of Arabs in Israel. Arab lawmakers could give Eisenkot support and vote for him in the Knesset to maintain a minority government without joining a coalition. If this is not possible, Israel may head to new elections.
Itamar Ben Gvir, a controversial far-right figure who did not achieve the expected results according to opinion polls, warned Netanyahu of another option, which is to form a unity government with Eisenkot. “That would be a grave mistake,” said Ben Gvir, who calls for the expulsion of the Palestinians and is likely to be excluded from any unity government. Gideon Rahat, a political scientist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, noted that Ben Gvir succeeded in pushing Israeli Arabs to vote. But he added, "Even if Netanyahu loses, that does not mean that Eisenkot has won."
Internal divisions and external isolation
These elections come at a time when Israel appears more isolated on the international scene, due to the war with Iran, the military operation in Gaza, the expansion of settlements, and the escalation of violence in the occupied West Bank. Netanyahu himself faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court in connection with the events in Gaza, in addition to accusations of corruption inside Israel that could lead him to prison if he loses power.
As for Eisenkot, he is a new face in politics, and is characterized by a calm style that completely contradicts the style of Netanyahu, who is known for his skill in rhetoric and persuasion. Eisenkot comes from a working-class Moroccan Jewish family, and if he wins, he will become the first prime minister of Israel of Middle Eastern or North African origin. Before casting his vote, Eisenkot, 66 years old, visited the grave of his son, “Gal,” whose killing in Gaza aroused widespread sympathy among Israelis.
The formation of any government coalition may take weeks or months, with the possibility of new elections being held if negotiations fail.
