Netanyahu, Eisenkot stake rival claims to lead Israel after deadlocked vote

October 28, 2026 1:10 PM

Netanyahu, Eisenkot stake rival claims to lead Israel after deadlocked vote

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and rival Gadi Eisenkot offered competing claims to lead Israel after Tuesday's election, with Netanyahu calling for a right-wing government and Eisenkot saying voters had rejected the longtime Israeli leader, even as exit polls left their blocs deadlocked. Netanyahu called for the formation of “a strong, right-wing national government,” while Eisenkot said the public had voted against Netanyahu remaining prime minister and called on him to retire from poli...

Israeli exit polls show deadlock, point to setback for Netanyahu

October 28, 2026 8:49 AM

Israeli exit polls show deadlock, point to setback for Netanyahu

Israel's wartime election appeared deadlocked on Tuesday, exit polls showed, with Gadi Eisenkot's opposition bloc running neck and neck with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's camp, leaving neither side with a clear path to power. The projections pointed to a setback for Netanyahu's coalition and potentially weeks of political wrangling to form a government, though the deadlock could allow Israel's longest-serving prime minister to remain in power as caretaker during coalition negotiations. "...