Netanyahu seeks 'right-wing, national, strong govt' in tight Israel election race
Netanyahu calls for a ‘strong, right-wing’ government, rejects reliance on Arab parties and vows to end Iranian threat with Trump; Eisenkot says voters have backed change
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival, Gadi Eisenkot, are locked in a tight race to form a government following Israel's election on October 7, 2023. Both candidates found themselves short of the majority needed to govern, with exit polls predicting around 51 seats for each. Eisenkot, a former military chief and political newcomer, claimed that Netanyahu, who has led the country for decades with a hard-right agenda, had lost the mandate of the people.
In a bid to prevent a unity government, Eisenkot warned Netanyahu against using Israel's security for political gains. Despite the close contest, Eisenkot vowed to form a government and work towards a more inclusive atmosphere, while Netanyahu called for a "strong government of the right" and hinted at a potential third bombing campaign against Iran.
The election, marked by record-high turnout, also saw a surge in Arab Israeli voter participation, leading to significant gains for Arab parties.
Written by urgent.news from Malay Mail's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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