Lieberman, who refuses to cooperate with Arab parties, calls on Likud to rebel against Netanyahu

Lieberman said: "One thing stood out today, which is that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acted as if he were the leader of a criminal organization, nothing less; he has crossed all red lines."

He called for a rebellion within Likud, saying: "I have received dozens of calls from my friends in Likud. This man must leave the scene, and everyone who believes in the approach of Theodor Herzl, Yosef Trumpeldor, and Ze'ev Jabotinsky must overthrow him."

He added, addressing party members: "Raise the banner of rebellion within Likud, and say out loud what you are actually thinking. Netanyahu has destroyed the national camp."

In his comment on the exit poll results, Lieberman said: "I am not sure that all exit polls accurately reflect the actual results, and it is better to wait until Friday, as the picture will be clearer then."

Lieberman's call for a rebellion within Likud gains additional importance in light of his categorical refusal to form a minority government that relies on a "safety net" from Arab lawmakers, an option that parties in the opposition camp might resort to if securing a majority of 61 seats proves impossible.

In this context, Lieberman's move can be read as an attempt to open another path toward forming a government led by Eisenkot, by attracting a number of Likud lawmakers considered to be center-right and distancing them from Netanyahu.

If this effort succeeds in attracting at least 8 Likud lawmakers, the Eisenkot camp, which includes Lieberman's party, could potentially build a parliamentary majority without the need for the support of Arab parties, and at the same time without Netanyahu or the "Otzma Yehudit" party led by Itamar Ben-Gvir and the "Religious Zionism" party led by Bezalel Smotrich.

On Tuesday evening, the Israeli Central Elections Committee announced in a statement that the voter turnout in the Knesset elections reached 77.7 percent, an increase of 7.1 percent over the 2022 elections, noting that it is the highest rate since 1999.

Polling stations closed at 10:00 PM local time (20:00 GMT), after which the vote-counting process began.

Exit poll results conducted by Israeli media showed the bloc of "Yeshar" party leader Gadi Eisenkot leading Netanyahu's alliance, without either of them obtaining the majority required to form a government, which is 61 seats out of 120.

An exit poll by the official Israeli Broadcasting Corporation reported that Netanyahu's alliance obtained 50 seats, compared to 53 for Eisenkot's alliance and 17 for the Arab parties.

An exit poll by Channel 13 showed similar results, with Netanyahu's alliance obtaining 50 seats, compared to 53 for Eisenkot's alliance and 17 for the Arab parties.

As for the Channel 12 poll, it showed Netanyahu's alliance obtaining 50 seats, compared to 52 for Eisenkot's alliance and 18 for the Arab parties.

The elections took place amidst intense competition between Netanyahu's camp and the opposition led by Eisenkot, in a vote described by Israeli media as one of the most decisive elections for the future of the political landscape in the country.

With the closing of the ballot boxes, Israeli television stations began publishing the results of voter polls after they cast their ballots, with initial results expected to begin appearing at dawn and morning on Wednesday.

The official results are expected to be announced on November 4.