Israel begins voting as Netanyahu faces Eisenkot in tight election
Volunteer observers are monitoring polling stations as Israelis vote in their first national election since the October 7 attack. An unsettled result could lead to lengthy coalition talks.
Israelis began voting in a national election on October 27, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing a challenge from former military chief Gadi Eisenkot and the formation of the next government in doubt. Thousands of volunteer observers were in place at polling stations as they began opening, according to Associated Press reporting carried by Hindustan Times.
The vote is Israel’s first national election since the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023, and the wars that followed. AP described it as a test of Netanyahu’s leadership through that period. France 24 reported that several parties are seeking to remove him from office, while opinion polls suggest a close contest with Eisenkot, his main rival.
Volunteer observers monitor the vote
Among the observers is Eyal Sher, who volunteered with the civil society group Elections Guards. He told AP that he wanted to play a role in a critical election. Sher accused the government of being willing to do anything to remain in power and said observers wanted to ensure voting procedures were followed. His accusation is his assessment; the report does not establish misconduct at polling stations.
Eisenkot’s bloc argues that Netanyahu should be held accountable for the security failures surrounding the October 7 attack and for failing to turn military victories into diplomatic gains, AP reported. Netanyahu’s supporters, France 24 reported, see him as a steady leader who has guided the country through multiple wars and defended its Jewish identity. Those competing views make his record in office central to the contest.
Why the result may not quickly produce a government
Israelis vote for parties, which must then assemble a governing coalition. The Knesset has 120 seats, and no single party has ever won the 61 seats needed for an outright majority, according to AP. Around a dozen parties were expected to win seats, leaving negotiations among them potentially decisive even after ballots are counted.
Pre-election polls offered no settled picture of which bloc could govern. CBS News reported that right-leaning pollsters favored Netanyahu’s right-wing and religious bloc, while left-leaning pollsters favored the opposing change bloc. Most polls cited by CBS did not give either side a decisive majority. Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, told CBS that an indecisive outcome appeared most likely.
A narrow result could mean prolonged bargaining, a minority government or another election, CBS reported. Israel held five elections between 2019 and 2022 amid political deadlock. For voters, that history means the outcome will depend on whether parties can agree on a government after the vote, as well as on the seats each wins.
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Sources and context
- Voting begins in Israel's high-stakes election as Netanyahu faces tough challenge from EisenkotHindustan Times, carrying Associated Press reporting
- Israel votes in first election since October 7 attack as Netanyahu faces crucial testFrance 24 with AFP and AP
- Israel's election is wide open. Here's what could decide Netanyahu's political fate.CBS News
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.