Eisenkot says ‘Israelis’ chose change, warns Netanyahu against politicizing security

• Opposition leaders presented the preliminary results as a rejection of Netanyahu’s leadership and his government’s handling of security.
• The projected distribution of seats left the formation of the next government uncertain.

‘Israeli’ opposition candidate Gadi Eisenkot said early Wednesday that voters had chosen change in ‘Israel’s’ election, warning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against using national security for political purposes as opposition parties challenged his governing bloc.

“People have chosen change,” Eisenkot said, framing the election as a call for a political shift. He also cautioned Netanyahu against using ‘Israel’s’ security for political ends, underscoring the tensions surrounding the vote and the country’s leadership.

The remarks came as preliminary election projections pointed to a setback for Netanyahu’s bloc, with opposition figures interpreting the results as a rejection of the prime minister’s leadership and his government’s handling of the country’s security challenges.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid described Netanyahu’s performance as a “crushing defeat,” while Eisenkot himself had earlier said preliminary figures showed a “complete lack of confidence in Netanyahu and the Oct. 7 government.”

The election marks a key test for Netanyahu, whose political future depends on whether his allies can secure enough support to maintain a parliamentary majority.

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