Israeli elections: Exit polls show no clear winner as Netanyahu and Eisenkot both vow to form a government

As Israel's election results began to emerge on October 26, opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot initially appeared to have a slight advantage over Prime Minister Netanyahu. However, as the night progressed, exit polls indicated a tight race, with both sides nearly equal. The election, marked by a high turnout of 77.7%, was the first since the October 7 Hamas attack. Eisenkot pledged to quickly form a government, asserting that voters rejected Netanyahu's divisive leadership. Netanyahu, meanwhile, expressed intentions to form a right-wing government, emphasizing the need for strong leadership without reliance on Arab parties. The election highlighted tensions surrounding Arab voter turnout and the potential for new elections if no coalition is formed.