Israel votes today in its first election since the October 7, 2023 attack, with Netanyahu's future at stake

Jerusalem — Israelis vote Tuesday in a pivotal election, the first national vote since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, which sparked the war in Gaza and related conflicts across the region.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces off against a coalition of parties seeking to remove him from power. Opinion polls have suggested a tight race, with his main rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, as the opposition's central figure.

In Israel's fragmented parliamentary politics, no single party has ever won an outright majority, so leaders must forge coalitions. In a tight race, in which nonaligned Arab parties are pushing for heavy turnout, there is a chance that neither Netanyahu's religious and ultranationalist coalition nor the bloc seeking to remove him wins a parliamentary majority, which would set off weeks of negotiations before a leader is declared.

Arab-led parties could emerge as kingmakers if they agree to support one candidate over the other, according to the AP news agency.

The vote takes place amid lingering tensions with Iran. Netanyahu ramped up threats against that country ahead of the vote and appeared this week in a video standing beside a missile-defense battery, warning Tehran it would face a “devastating blow” if it attacked Israel.

The election is seen not only as a referendum on Netanyahu's lengthy leadership but also on what kind of country Israel should be. Issues in the debate include the military service exemption for ultra-Orthodox men devoted to religious studies, the independence of the judiciary, and the handling of the war in Gaza and the hostage crisis.

Polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 10:00 p.m. local time, when television channels will air exit polls. The final tally is expected by October 30 and official results will be published on November 4, according to Reuters. Afterwards, President Isaac Herzog will consult party leaders and tap the candidate with the best chance of forming a government, who will have up to 42 days to do so.

Photo: Asharq Al-Awsat (archivo)

Source: AP