Israelis vote to decide leadership after three years of war

Israel has been without a national election since the October 7, 2023, attack, a conflict that triggered a war in Gaza and regional instability. On Tuesday, more than 7 million eligible citizens voted in a contest to determine the country's next prime minister.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a challenge from former military chief Gadi Eisenkot and a coalition of parties seeking to remove him from power. Opinion polls indicated a tight race, with no single party expected to secure an outright parliamentary majority. Because Israel's parliamentary system requires coalitions, the result could trigger weeks of negotiations before a government is formed.

Arab-led parties, which are pushing for high turnout, may hold the balance of power. If these parties agree to support one candidate and join forces with other groups, they could determine the outcome. The election also forces a choice on the state's direction, pitting religious and ultranationalist forces against liberal and secular values.

Tensions with Iran loom over the vote. Netanyahu issued a warning to Tehran this week, standing beside a missile-defense battery in a video and stating that Israel would deliver a "devastating blow" if attacked. In Tel Aviv, families of those killed on October 7 or former hostages observed a moment of silence before polls opened. Yona Adam, whose daughter Mapal Adam was killed, told the crowd, "Remember all those whose voices are no more."

In Kiryat Shmona, a Netanyahu stronghold near the Lebanese border, one man kicked and tore down a poster of Eisenkot as polls opened. Approximately 330,000 young Israelis, many facing compulsory military service, are voting for the first time. Tens of thousands of voters living overseas reportedly flew to the country to cast their ballots.

Supporters of Netanyahu view him as a steady hand who has guided Israel through multiple wars while protecting its Jewish identity and checking an interventionist judiciary. Critics describe him as a polarizing leader who, while facing a corruption trial, prolonged the Gaza war and hostage crisis for political reasons. They accuse him of weakening democratic institutions and allowing ultra-Orthodox men to avoid military conscription.

Backers of Eisenkot see him as a leader with strong security credentials who can serve as a bulwark against illiberalism. His son and two nephews were killed in Gaza, a loss his supporters say drives his political stance. Parties likely to support Eisenkot have vowed to improve Israel's international standing, conscript ultra-Orthodox men, and bolster the independence of the judiciary.

Israel has faced growing isolation since the 2023 attack, with public support among Americans plummeting and European partners imposing sanctions. The vote serves as a referendum on Netanyahu's lengthy leadership and the country's future policy direction.