Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted a 'right-wing' government must be formed to ensure long term security in the country, after Tuesday (October 27) exit polls showed Israel's wartime election appeared deadlocked with his Lukid Party and opposition bloc led by former general Gadi Eisenkot.

While Netanyahu was criticized for the country's biggest security failure, he argued that he had made Israel and the world safer by killing top leaders of Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran.

The policies of Netanyahu's right-wing coalition have been divisive at home and deepened Israel's international isolation, but he has portrayed himself as the leader with the mettle to face down Israel's foes.

Netanyahu, 77, has served as prime minister for nearly 19 of the past 30 years and has repeatedly survived political crises. His opponents have managed to wrest the premiership from him only once since 2009, after four inconclusive elections in two years. Eighteen months later, he was back.

He entered the election facing long-standing corruption charges, which he denies, and criticism over intelligence failures that allowed Hamas-led militants to carry out their attack.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

JERUSALEM (OCTOBER 28, 2026) (POOL - Access all)

1. ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU WALKING UP TO STAGE IN HIS LIKUD PARTY'S HEADQUARTERS AFTER NATIONAL ELECTION DAY

2. NETANYAHU SINGING, CLAPPING

3. NETANYAHU ON STAGE

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING:

"This is just an introduction. We, we are still waiting for the true results, the true results which we will receive over the next day or two. With God’s help... regarding the Likud, two things have become clear. The first is unequivocal: the Likud is the largest party in Israel.” / (AUDIO OF CROWD CHEERING AND CHANTING)

5. WHITE FLASH

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING:

"We must form a right-wing, national, strong government. That is what must be done. We must not, must not, endanger Israel and establish a government that is backed by anti-Zionist Arab parties."

7. WHITE FLASH

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU SAYING:

"Israel faces a singular historical opportunity, together with our partner President Trump, to remove the existential threat of Iran once and for all."

9. VARIOUS OF LIKUD MEMBERS WALKING UP TO STAGE TO GREET NETANYAHU

10. VARIOUS OF NETANYAHU AND WIFE SARA (IN RED SUIT) SINGING ISRAEL'S NATIONAL ANTHEM WITH LIKUD MEMBERS ON STAGE

11. PEOPLE LEAVING LIKUD HEADQUARTERS