Israeli opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party of launching a coordinated campaign to undermine the legitimacy of the election results on Thursday, warning against political interference in an investigation into possible foreign influence.
“It is too early to understand what happened, or whether anything happened at all. The relevant professionals must be allowed to complete their investigation without political interference,” Eisenkot said.
In a video statement from the Yashar headquarters in Tel Aviv, party leader and former Israeli military chief said he had met with the head of the Shin Bet security agency and the chairman of the Central Elections Committee to discuss the situation.
“What is already clear is that Likud and Netanyahu have launched a coordinated and organised campaign to delegitimise the election results. Their statements and briefings were prepared in advance. They are doing this because they lost. They do not have a majority,” he alleged.
“No spin and no information campaign can conceal the following fact: the majority of the Israeli public voted against the government of October 7 and the takeover,” he added.
Eisenkot insisted that the planned swearing-in of the Knesset must proceed without disruption and said his party was preparing legislation on military conscription, a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 attacks and changes to budget allocations.
“One thing is certain: the days when Netanyahu could use the institutions of government against Israel’s interests and for his own personal needs are over,” he declared. “We will make it happen. I promise.”
With 100 percent of votes counted, Netanyahu’s bloc secured 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset, while Eisenkot’s opposition bloc won 48. Neither reached the 61 seats required for a parliamentary majority, leaving the 19 seats captured by Arab parties potentially decisive in coalition negotiations.
Source: Viory
