Exit polls after Israel’s Oct. 27 parliamentary election put Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc and opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot’s camp at roughly equal strength, leaving neither with a clear parliamentary majority, AFP reported.
At a Tel Aviv rally on Oct. 28, Eisenkot pledged to work quickly to form a government. “The public has voted for change,” he told supporters, AFP reported. He also urged Netanyahu not to use Israel’s security for political purposes.
AFP reported that Arab Israeli parties recorded the largest gains, with strong participation by voters opposed to Netanyahu. The outlet also said Netanyahu’s threats of a new war with Iran could make coalition efforts more difficult.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, an ally of Netanyahu, said opposition claims of victory were premature, AFP reported. Anadolu reported that the Joint List had signaled cooperation with the wider opposition change bloc. Its account did not report that the party had agreed to join a future cabinet, as EconoTimes’ earlier coverage of the offer noted.
