On Tuesday, October 27, Israel began parliamentary elections that will determine the makeup of the new Knesset and the political future of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This is the first nationwide vote since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent military conflicts in the Middle East.
Reported by Associated Press and The Times of Israel.
Polling stations opened at 07:00 local time and will mostly close at 22:00. Over 7.3 million citizens are eligible to vote. Voters are choosing the Knesset—Israel's unicameral parliament, which has 120 seats.
The main political battle is between incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition politician Gadi Eisenkot, former Chief of General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.
Netanyahu leads the right-wing Likud party and seeks to preserve government leadership, relying on allies from religious and right-wing political forces.
Eisenkot leads the centrist Yashar party and advocates a change in the country's current leadership. A central theme of his campaign has been the government's accountability for security failures that preceded the Hamas attack in October 2023.
Other influential participants in the election include former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, leader of the "Yisrael Beiteinu" party Avigdor Lieberman, as well as representatives of far-right and religious parties that are part of the current government coalition.
Pre-election polls indicated a tight race between the two political camps. However, results of recent surveys varied significantly depending on the polling agency. None of the sides had a guaranteed parliamentary majority based on the published forecasts.
To form a government in Israel, a party or coalition must obtain the support of at least 61 of the 120 Knesset members. Since no party typically wins an absolute majority on its own, post-election coalition agreements may prove decisive.
One of the main issues of the campaign was the accountability of political and military leadership for the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, when militants infiltrated Israeli territory, killed about 1,200 people, and captured hundreds of hostages.
Netanyahu's critics accuse his government of failing to prevent the attack and demand an independent investigation into officials' actions. The prime minister himself emphasizes the need to maintain the current security course and continue countering threats from Iran and its allies.
Another important topic was military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews. The opposition demands a review of the exemption system from conscription, while religious parties supporting Netanyahu oppose forced mobilization of members of their communities.
Election results will also matter for Israel's foreign policy. The incoming government will determine the country's future stance on confrontation with Iran, the situation in the Gaza Strip, and relations with the United States.
First exit poll results are scheduled to be released by Israeli television channels after polls close at 22:00. Vote counting may take several days, and final official results are expected in early November.
After the results are established, Israeli President Isaac Herzog will hold consultations with parliamentary parties and task one of the lawmakers with forming a government. If no political force can create a coalition, the country may face prolonged negotiations or the need for repeat elections.
Sources: Associated Press, The Times of Israel, Israel Democracy Institute
