Eisenkot says ready to form government as exit polls show Israeli election deadlock

Exit polls in Israel suggest opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot’s bloc is ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition, but neither side appears to have secured the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority. Projections from three Israeli television networks gave Eisenkot’s bloc 52 to 53 seats, compared with 50 for Netanyahu’s coalition. Eisenkot vowed to move quickly to replace the government, while other opposition leaders described the projections as a major setback for Netanyahu. Arab-majority parties could hold the balance of power, although both leading blocs have ruled out forming a coalition with them. Final official results are still pending.
Analysts say a change of government may not bring a major shift in Israel’s regional policies. Opposition figures have largely maintained hard-line positions on Iran and shown limited support for Palestinian statehood. A new government could pursue more diplomacy and seek to improve Israel’s international image, but a substantial change in its approach toward the Palestinians is considered unlikely.

Source: CGTN