Israelis Head to Polls as Netanyahu Faces Challenge From Former Military Chief
14 hours ago
Israeli voters are set to head to the polls Tuesday in an election that will determine whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secures another term in office.
Netanyahu's Likud party faces a challenge from the centrist Yashar party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces.
The election comes amid ongoing political divisions over Israel's security, leadership and the government's handling of the conflict in Gaza.
Unlike the United States, Israel does not directly elect its prime minister. Instead, voters select political parties to represent them in the Knesset, the country's 120-seat parliament.
A party or coalition must secure the support of at least 61 lawmakers to form a governing majority.
That means the outcome will depend not only on how many seats each party wins but also on which parties are willing to work together after the election.
Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, has led the country through multiple periods of conflict, including the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
His leadership and handling of the subsequent military campaign in Gaza have remained central issues in Israeli politics.
Eisenkot, who previously served in Netanyahu's war cabinet, resigned from the emergency government in 2024 after criticizing the prime minister's approach to the conflict.
Although Eisenkot supported Israel's military campaign against Hamas, he argued that Netanyahu had failed to establish a clear strategy for achieving the country's long-term objectives in Gaza.
Eisenkot's political challenge places two prominent figures with extensive national security experience on opposing sides of the election.
With coalition negotiations expected to play a decisive role, the election could shape Israel's next government and its approach to security and foreign policy.
Voters are scheduled to cast their ballots Tuesday, October 27.
Netanyahu's Likud party faces a challenge from the centrist Yashar party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces.
The election comes amid ongoing political divisions over Israel's security, leadership and the government's handling of the conflict in Gaza.
Unlike the United States, Israel does not directly elect its prime minister. Instead, voters select political parties to represent them in the Knesset, the country's 120-seat parliament.
A party or coalition must secure the support of at least 61 lawmakers to form a governing majority.
That means the outcome will depend not only on how many seats each party wins but also on which parties are willing to work together after the election.
Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, has led the country through multiple periods of conflict, including the aftermath of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
His leadership and handling of the subsequent military campaign in Gaza have remained central issues in Israeli politics.
Eisenkot, who previously served in Netanyahu's war cabinet, resigned from the emergency government in 2024 after criticizing the prime minister's approach to the conflict.
Although Eisenkot supported Israel's military campaign against Hamas, he argued that Netanyahu had failed to establish a clear strategy for achieving the country's long-term objectives in Gaza.
Eisenkot's political challenge places two prominent figures with extensive national security experience on opposing sides of the election.
With coalition negotiations expected to play a decisive role, the election could shape Israel's next government and its approach to security and foreign policy.
Voters are scheduled to cast their ballots Tuesday, October 27.
