World
Israel votes in first election since October 7 attacks as Netanyahu fights for survival
Israelis go to the polls on October 27 to choose their next government in an election dominated by security concerns and Netanyahu's political future.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader with 19 years in office, faces a closely contested election as the country votes for the first time since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attacks and the ensuing wars in Gaza and with Iran. Netanyahu's political survival hinges on the outcome, with a rival alliance led by former military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot presenting a significant challenge.
According to data from the Viterbi Family Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, approximately 13 percent of Israeli voters had yet to decide how they would vote ahead of the election. In the town of Dimona, disenchanted voters have campaigned against Netanyahu, seeking political change despite the Likud party's strong loyalty from its base.
Voters in Israel select a party list rather than a candidate directly. Each party creates a ranked list of its candidates on a single ballot, allowing voters to elect the party or slate as a whole. Two in three Israelis consider the Nova massacre central to their voting decision, according to one account.
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Prime Minister Netanyahu has campaigned heavily on his security credentials. In the days before the election, Netanyahu warned that Iran and its allies might attempt to disrupt the vote, cautioning the Islamic republic against any hostile acts. Israel's Channel 12 reported, citing unnamed sources, that there had been a confrontation between Netanyahu and army chief Eyal Zamir over an unspecified new directive related to the war with Iran, which Netanyahu denied.
The election takes place amid Israel's deepening international isolation and follows the wars triggered by the October 7 attacks. Netanyahu remains a formidable figure within nationalist politics, and the country's fragmented political system leaves him well positioned to form a government, according to one assessment.
The race is described as wide open, with several key factors potentially deciding Netanyahu's political fate. Donald Trump, the American president, remains a supporter of Netanyahu.