Israelis begin voting as Netanyahu fights to retain power
Israelis began voting on Tuesday in the country’s first general election since the October 7, 2023 attack, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing a closely contested race amid public scrutiny of his wartime leadership and Israel’s rightward political shift.
More than 7.3 million people are eligible to vote for the 120-member Knesset, with 37 parties and electoral lists competing.
Polling stations opened at 7am local time (10am Pakistan time) and are scheduled to close at 10pm (1am Pakistan time), after which counting will begin and television networks are expected to publish exit polls.
Recent opinion polls suggest neither Netanyahu’s Likud-led bloc nor the opposition alliance led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot is likely to secure the 61 seats needed to form a government, potentially prolonging political uncertainty.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister with 19 years in power, has centred his campaign on his wartime leadership and close ties with US President Donald Trump, who backed him during the war with Iran.
Eisenkot has accused the premier of relying on intimidation, lies and threats.
Netanyahu may need the support of far-right leaders Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich to assemble a governing coalition.
Other prominent contenders include former prime minister Naftali Bennett’s Together alliance, Yair Golan’s Democrats, Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu, and Arab political groups, including the Joint List and United Arab List.
The election comes amid Israel’s wars in Gaza, Iran and Lebanon, its military operations in Yemen and continued occupation of Palestinian territories.
Netanyahu is also standing trial on corruption charges and faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israeli police have deployed 20,000 officers to secure polling stations and maintain public order.
Initial results are expected overnight, while official results are scheduled to be published by November 4.
President Isaac Herzog is expected to consult political parties a week after the election before deciding which lawmaker to task with forming the next government.
If no candidate can assemble a governing coalition, Netanyahu could remain at the head of a caretaker government until another election