Following the general elections in Israel, results and exit polls continue to emerge. According to these, the opposition alliance has made significant gains, asserting that the public has clearly rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—who has held power for a long time—along with his right-wing government.
According to Israel’s Central Elections Committee, voter turnout reached 77.7 percent—the highest level seen since 1999. By the time polls closed at 10:00 PM, more than 5.695 million citizens had cast their votes.
Reacting to the results, Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid stated, “Today, the State of Israel has saved itself, and the Netanyahu government has faced a historic and decisive defeat.”
In a statement shared on social media, Yair Lapid emphasized that the public has opted for change, and that the immediate priority must be the formation of a new “Zionist government.” Describing former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett as an excellent partner, he noted that restoring the rule of law and public trust in state institutions is essential to overcoming the challenges facing the country.
Gadi Eizenkot, a former army chief and a leader within the opposition alliance, also addressed his supporters, claiming that voters have delivered a verdict against Netanyahu’s prolonged rule. He added that efforts to form a new government would begin shortly. They warned Netanyahu against using national security for political purposes.
According to political observers, there is a concern that the recent tensions with Iran might be exploited by Netanyahu to influence the government-formation process and exacerbate political uncertainty.
Orit Farkash-Hacohen, a leader in the ‘Yashar’ party—founded by a former army chief—told a British news agency that Netanyahu’s coalition bloc has suffered a significant loss of approximately 20 seats, leaving him unable to maintain a majority in the parliament (Knesset).
She stated that the Israeli public has unequivocally rejected Netanyahu’s leadership and opted for a new style of leadership instead.
Exit polls indicate that the opposition alliance holds a slight lead over Netanyahu’s bloc; however, both sides are currently engaged in intense maneuvering to secure the crucial 61-seat threshold required to form a government in the Knesset.
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