Israel Election: Rivals Strike Tone of Triumph, but Outcome Remains Unclear
In a closely contested Israeli election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the opposition bloc, have expressed confidence in their ability to form the next government. However, with vote counting expected to last for days, the outcome remains uncertain.
Netanyahu, who leads the far-right coalition, addressed his supporters late Tuesday night, invoking his relationship with former US President Donald Trump and repeating his pre-election talking points about removing the threat of Iran. He sounded triumphant, claiming that his Likud party had emerged as the largest party in Israel.
Eisenkot, a former military chief, also addressed his supporters, striking a tone of triumph and defiance towards Netanyahu. "Tonight we got the answer: The public wants change," he said.
Exit polls suggest that neither Netanyahu's bloc nor Eisenkot's coalition will be able to form a government without relying on Arab parties, which are projected to win 17 or 18 seats in the 120-seat Parliament. Netanyahu has ruled out including Arab parties in a governing coalition, while Eisenkot and his partners have also balked at the idea.
The possibility of a unity government, where Netanyahu and Eisenkot join forces, is being weighed by analysts. However, such an alliance would face significant obstacles, including the deep-seated animosity between Netanyahu and Eisenkot's voters.
The official results are expected to be released in the coming days, and the process of forming a government could take weeks or even months. The Central Elections Committee has warned that vote counting could continue into Friday due to a large number of absentee ballots.
