Israelis Vote as Netanyahu Faces Existential Threat From Rival Eisenkot

Voters in Israel cast ballots on Tuesday in a national election that determines the makeup of the 120-member Knesset. The race is widely viewed as a direct test of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership following the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent regional conflicts.

Israelis select political parties rather than individual candidates. These parties then negotiate to form a majority coalition of at least 61 seats. No single party has ever achieved that majority on its own. Opinion polls indicate a tight race with no clear frontrunner, suggesting that roughly a dozen parties will win seats and engage in prolonged negotiations.

Tensions were visible at polling stations across the country. In Kiryat Shmona, a stronghold for Netanyahu near the Lebanese border, a man tore down a poster of Gadi Eisenkot, the prime minister's leading rival. In Tel Aviv, families of victims killed on October 7, 2023, and former hostages observed a moment of silence. Yona Adam, whose son Mapal was killed in the attack, told those gathered to remember those whose voices are no more.

Eisenkot campaigned in Ofakim, a southern community hit by militants on October 7, 2023. The visit highlighted the security failures of the current government and Netanyahu's refusal to establish a state commission of inquiry. Eisenkot, who lost his son and two nephews in combat in Gaza, aimed to remind voters of these losses. Thousands of volunteer observers from groups like Elections Guards monitored the voting process to ensure procedural integrity.

Netanyahu has dominated Israeli politics for nearly two decades. At 77, a poor performance could end his career with a bitter note, while a victory would solidify his status as a political survivor. U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed Netanyahu's reelection earlier this month. However, the late timing of the endorsement was seen as a setback for the Likud leader, who had previously cited his close relationship with the Republican president as a key asset.

The campaign focused heavily on Netanyahu's role in the security breakdown of October 7. Critics also targeted his efforts to exempt ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service and a 2023 judicial overhaul they viewed as an assault on democratic institutions. In contrast, there was little debate about Israel's wartime conduct in Gaza, which led to an international arrest warrant for the prime minister.

Public support remains high for Israel's occupation of parts of southern Lebanon and Syria, as well as its two wars against Iran. The Eisenkot bloc argues that Netanyahu should be held accountable for the failure to convert battlefield victories into diplomatic results. The vote marks a potential turning point in Israeli politics, with both sides fighting to define the nation's direction post-war.

Eyal Sher, a volunteer for Elections Guards, said he participated because he wanted to play a role in such a critical vote. He described the current government as corrupt and stated that every vote counts to keep procedures intact. The results will determine whether Netanyahu continues his long tenure or if a new era begins in the Knesset.