JERUSALEM — Israelis vote on Tuesday in their first general election since the October 7, 2023 attacks, with final polls showing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition and the main opposition bloc almost level.
The last surveys allowed under Israeli election law, published Friday, show former military chief Gadi Eisenkot and his centrist Yashar party regularly edging Netanyahu’s Likud for first place, BBC News reported. About half a million first-time voters are eligible, and some 70,000 Israelis are reportedly flying home to vote.
Neither bloc is projected to reach the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-seat Knesset, which could mean weeks or months of coalition talks, according to BBC News. If no government can be formed, new elections could follow, with Netanyahu staying on as interim prime minister.
Eisenkot, whose son was killed in the Gaza war, has campaigned on accountability for the security failures of October 7 and promised a state commission of inquiry. Netanyahu has refused to set one up. “These elections are about many issues,” Eisenkot told voters in Ramle. “But primarily, they are about the identity of the State of Israel.”
Netanyahu has again cast himself as “Mr Security,” pointing to Israel’s strategic gains in its wars since 2023. Military service for ultra-Orthodox men, judicial reform and the cost of living are also central issues.
Sources: BBC News, BBC News (explainer)
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