Israelis Cast Ballots to Break Wartime Stalemate

Israelis went to the polls Tuesday to determine whether to retain Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after three years of war.

Opinion polls indicate a tight race between Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief. In Israel's parliamentary system, no single party has ever secured an outright majority. Leaders must build coalitions to govern. The current polling suggests that neither side may have enough seats to form a government immediately. Nonaligned Arab parties are pushing for high turnout and could become kingmakers if they choose a side.

The election marks the first national vote since the October 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war in Gaza and broader regional conflicts. Tensions with Iran loom over the vote. Netanyahu recently appeared in a video beside a missile-defense battery, warning Tehran of a devastating blow if it attacked. In Kiryat Shmona, a Netanyahu stronghold near the Lebanese border, emotions ran high before polls opened. One man tore down a poster of Eisenkot.

In Tel Aviv, families of victims from the 2023 attack and former hostages observed a moment of silence. Yona Adam, whose daughter Mapal Adam was killed, urged voters to remember those who are gone. The vote serves as a referendum on the direction of the state. Israelis are choosing between a government heavily influenced by religious and nationalist forces or one anchored in liberal and secular values.

Netanyahu’s supporters view him as a steady hand who has guided Israel through multiple wars. They believe he is protecting the country’s Jewish identity and checking an interventionist judiciary. His detractors call him a polarizing leader. They argue he prolonged the war in Gaza and the hostage crisis for political reasons. They accuse him of undermining the independent judiciary and allowing ultra-Orthodox religious Jews to avoid compulsory military service.

Eisenkot is seen by his backers as a leader with strong security credentials. His son and two nephews were killed in Gaza. Supporters believe he feels the pain of the conflict deeply and can act as a bulwark against illiberalism. Parties likely to support Eisenkot have vowed to conscript ultra-Orthodox men and bolster judicial independence. They also promise to improve Israel’s international standing.

Israel’s traditional allies have sharply criticized the country’s policies. Public support among Americans has dropped, and partners in Europe have imposed sanctions in recent months. Violence by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank has intensified. The outcome will determine whether Netanyahu continues his latest four-year term or if a new coalition takes power. If neither side wins a majority, weeks of negotiations could follow before a leader is declared.