President Isaac Herzog has signaled that Gadi Eisenkot could receive the first mandate to form Israel’s next government.
Gadi Eisenkot, Chairman of the Yashar Party in a statement:
A few words from me to you, my fellow Israelis, ahead of the coming days:
The vote count is complete, and the elections are over. No matter how you look at the numbers, the majority of Israeli citizens, by a margin of more than half a million votes, voted against the government of October 7 and draft evasion, and in favor of change. This represents a majority among all Israeli citizens and a majority among the Zionist public that serves the country.
Over the past year, I described these elections as the most consequential in Israel’s history, and their results are clear, even though some are working to cast doubt on them.
I promised to reunite Israel and put an end to the culture of lies led by Netanyahu, which has torn us apart from within. I promised that under my leadership, one side would not defeat the other, and that the era of “us” versus “them” would come to an end. In keeping with these promises, I will continue working toward these goals in the coming weeks.
At the same time, I intend to act immediately to implement the clear parliamentary majority for the benefit of all Israeli citizens. This includes establishing a state commission of inquiry, advancing universal national service obligations, taking immediate action to increase and strengthen the number of people serving in the IDF, providing appropriate rewards and recognition to those who serve, repealing the laws associated with the judicial overhaul, and more.
During the election campaign, I set a goal of establishing a Zionist, statesmanlike government based on the broadest possible national consensus - one that would bring healing and fundamentally change the direction in which Israel is heading.
I consistently presented 4 principles that would strengthen Israel and serve as the foundation for any partnership:
1. Recognition of Israel as a Jewish, democratic, liberal, and egalitarian state.
2. Commitment to the values of Israel’s Declaration of Independence.
3. Mandatory service for all Israeli citizens - military, national, or civilian.
4. Recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization and acknowledgment of the obligation to destroy its military and governing power in the Gaza Strip.
Based on these principles, I intend to establish a broad, Zionist, and statesmanlike government.
To achieve this, I will coordinate with my partners and work to expand the coalition in order to fulfill the voters’ wishes and immediately improve Israel’s domestic and international standing.
Any member of the Knesset willing to sign on to these principles is a potential partner in establishing a new and better government for Israel.
On October 27, the public made its voice heard.
Now, the responsibility falls on us, the elected representatives, to do everything possible to translate the will of the people into reality.
The failure of October 7, along with the security, domestic, economic, and international circumstances that followed, demands courageous decisions, and quickly.
I will do everything in my power to achieve the broadest possible national consensus so that we can begin the process of repair and reconstruction.
Finally, the war against our enemies is not over. The objectives of the war have not been achieved.
Until the new government is formed, I will support military operations only when there are direct and immediate threats against Israel that cannot wait until the new government is sworn in.
Let us not deceive ourselves. We are facing weeks that will be busy, complicated, and filled with political spin and lies.
I intend to act courageously, with a deep commitment to the voters and to the country, to fulfill their will quietly and creatively.
We will act and succeed, for all of us and for the State of Israel.
I promise.
Eisenkot to his associates: I don't want a unity government with Netanyahu; he has lost touch with reality.
