**Gadi Eisenkot, Chairman of the Yashar! with Eisenkot Party:**
**At a Historic Crossroads**
Shavua Tov (Have a good week).
A few words from me to you, my fellow Israelis, ahead of the coming days:
The vote count is complete, and the elections are over. No matter how you look at the numbers, the majority of Israeli citizens—by a margin of more than half a million votes—voted against the government of October 7 and draft evasion, and in favor of change. This represents a majority among all Israeli citizens and a majority among the Zionist public that serves the country.
Over the past year, I described these elections as the most consequential in Israel’s history, and their results are clear, even though some are working to cast doubt on them.
I promised to reunite Israel and put an end to the culture of lies led by Netanyahu, which has torn us apart from within. I promised that under my leadership, one side would not defeat the other, and that the era of “us” versus “them” would come to an end. In keeping with these promises, I will continue working toward these goals in the coming weeks.
At the same time, I intend to act immediately to implement the clear parliamentary majority for the benefit of all Israeli citizens. This includes establishing a state commission of inquiry, advancing universal national service obligations, taking immediate action to increase and strengthen the number of people serving in the IDF, providing appropriate rewards and recognition to those who serve, repealing the laws associated with the judicial overhaul, and more.
Do not let anyone mislead you: **In the State of Israel, it is the Knesset that grants confidence to the government, not the other way around.**
During the election campaign, I set a goal of establishing a Zionist, statesmanlike government based on the broadest possible national consensus—one that would bring healing and fundamentally change the direction in which Israel is heading.
I consistently presented four principles that would strengthen Israel and serve as the foundation for any partnership:
1. Recognition of Israel as a Jewish, democratic, liberal, and egalitarian state.
2. Commitment to the values of Israel’s Declaration of Independence.
3. Mandatory service for all Israeli citizens—military, national, or civilian.
4. Recognition of Hamas as a terrorist organization and acknowledgment of the obligation to destroy its military and governing power in the Gaza Strip.
Based on these principles, I intend to establish a broad, Zionist, and statesmanlike government.
To achieve this, I will coordinate with my partners and work to expand the coalition in order to fulfill the voters’ wishes and immediately improve Israel’s domestic and international standing.
**Any member of the Knesset willing to sign on to these principles is a potential partner in establishing a new and better government for Israel.**
The door to the government we establish will remain open to any elected official who accepts these principles and is prepared to rise to the occasion.
It is clear that the high voter turnout, along with the challenges before us, demands an extraordinary effort to avoid another election and prevent the country from entering yet another prolonged political crisis.
On October 27, the public made its voice heard. The decision regarding the composition of Israel’s next government belongs exclusively to the citizens of Israel, without interference or manipulation—as it should be.
Now, the responsibility falls on us, the elected representatives, to do everything possible to translate the will of the people into reality.
The failure of October 7, along with the security, domestic, economic, and international circumstances that followed, demands courageous decisions—and quickly.
I will do everything in my power to achieve the broadest possible national consensus so that we can begin the process of repair and reconstruction.
Finally, the war against our enemies is not over. The objectives of the war have not been achieved. > >