Israelis went to the polls on Tuesday in an election that will decide whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu survives the worst security failure in the country’s history, RTÉ reported. Voting opened at 7:00 a.m. local time, with approximately 7.3 million citizens eligible to cast ballots in what The Guardian reported as the most consequential vote in the nation’s history.
Who is running against Benjamin Netanyahu?
Mr. Netanyahu, 77, has served as prime minister for nearly two decades across three spells in office. Long casting himself as Israel’s indispensable protector, he has argued throughout the campaign that only his leadership can guide the country through its ongoing conflicts. In the final days before the vote, he leaned heavily on international backing, securing a second endorsement from US President Donald Trump, who urged Israelis to support the incumbent so the two leaders could finish the job in Iran. His chief rival is Gadi Eisenkot, 66, a former chief of the Israeli military whose son and two nephews were killed fighting in Gaza after the war began. Mr. Eisenkot leads a new centrist party named Yashar, which edges ahead of Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud party in most final polls.
What are the central issues dominating the ballot?
For three years, Mr. Netanyahu has resisted calls for a state commission of inquiry. Mr. Eisenkot has promised to establish one, alongside pushing for an equal military draft across all sectors of society, including ultra-Orthodox men who frequently avoid service.
How has the Iran factor disrupted the final days of the campaign?
Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Mr. Netanyahu clashed with the head of the army, Eyal Zamir, over an unspecified directive related to Iran, and that General Zamir demanded a signed legal authorization before proceeding. CNN subsequently reported that Mr. Netanyahu pressed for a joint strike on Iran alongside the United States prior to the vote, a request that did not receive a green light from Mr. Trump. The prime minister’s office dismissed the accounts as fake news, while Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel had no intention of launching a pre-election attack. Opposition figures seized instantly on the reports, with former defence minister Avigdor Liberman describing the alleged move as treason and demanding an attorney general investigation.
How do the coalition numbers shape up in the Knesset?
Final polls published before a mandatory legal blackout pointed to a fierce deadlock. Mr. Netanyahu’s bloc and the opposition coalition aligned behind Mr. Eisenkot were projected to win roughly 52 or 53 seats each, falling well short of the 61 seats required for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. However, that arithmetic leaves out Arab parties, whose voters represent roughly a fifth of the population. The Joint List and Ra’am are polling at around 14 seats combined. While those parties indicate a willingness to help bring down the prime minister, Mr. Eisenkot has thus far ruled out bringing Arab factions directly into government unless they meet stringent conditions, such as recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization.
When will the final election results emerge?
Once tallies are finalized, the president will consult with party leaders before tasking one lawmaker with forming a government.
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