Former Israeli general Gadi Eisenkot who became Prime Minister Benjamin top political rival, said early on Wednesday (October 28) that he was determined to lead Israel to a new era, despite exit polls showing deadlock in the country's national election.

Exit polls showed Eisenkot's opposition bloc running neck and neck with 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.

Voter turnout was 77.7%, Israel's Central Elections Committee said, the highest in more than two decades and around 7 percentage points higher than in 2022.

Final results could take days, and Israel's fragmented political system leaves smaller parties potential kingmakers in coalition negotiations that have run to weeks or months after past elections. If neither bloc can form a government, another vote may need to be held, something Eisenkot opposed.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (OCTOBER 28, 2026) (POOL - Access all)

1. SUPPORTERS OF ISRAELI CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER, FORMER GENERAL GADI EISENKOT, WAVING ISRAELI FLAGS IN HEADQUARTERS AFTER ELECTION EXIT POLLS SHOWED DEADLOCK WITH ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU'S LIKUD PARTY

2. VARIOUS OF EISENKOT WALKING INTO VENUE, GREETING PEOPLE

3. EISENKOT WALKING UP TO STAGE, GREETING PARTY MEMBERS

4. EISENKOT STANDING ON STAGE WITH PARTY MEMBERS

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER, FORMER GENERAL GADI EISENKOT, SAYING:

"Good night everyone, friends and comrades, partners on this journey. We made history."

6. CROWD CHEERING

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER, FORMER GENERAL GADI EISENKOT, SAYING:

"I stand before you thrilled. This morning the people of Israel went to a referendum on the leadership that will guide Israel in the coming years. Tonight we received an answer -- the public has decided in favour of change.

8. CROWD CHEERING

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER, FORMER GENERAL GADI EISENKOT, SAYING:

"The coalition of failure has lost the trust of the people. The Israeli public voted against the continuation of Netanyahu's tenure as prime minister of Israel."

10. CROWD CHEERING

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER, FORMER GENERAL GADI EISENKOT, SAYING:

"Netanyahu, don't you dare use Israel's security for your political needs."

12. CROWD CHEERING

13. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI CANDIDATE FOR PRIME MINISTER, FORMER GENERAL GADI EISENKOT, SAYING:

"Israel is on the way to a new era -- an era of hope, mutual responsibility and fellowship. Everything we were and will be again. I am determined that it will be so."

14. CROWD CLAPPING, CHANTING (Hebrew): 'OOH AH WHO IS COMING? THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER'

15. VARIOUS OF EISENKOT AND PARTY MEMBERS SINGING ISRAEL'S NATIONAL ANTHEM

16. CROWD WAVING FLAGS, EISENKOT TAKING FLAG FROM PERSON IN CROWD, WAVING IT

17. VARIOUS OF EISENKOT SUPPORTERS DANCING