Israelis vote in tight race between Netanyahu and Eisenkot

Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot face off in a close contest to lead Israel. The prime minister seeks to retain power after three years of war, while the former military chief leads a coalition aimed at removing him. More than seven million people are eligible to cast ballots, including tens of thousands who traveled from overseas.

The race follows the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, which triggered the current regional conflicts. This is the first national election since that event. In Tel Aviv, families of victims and former hostages observed a moment of silence before polls opened. Yona Adam, whose daughter was killed in the attack, told voters, “Remember all those whose voices are no more.”

Early figures from the Central Elections Committee show almost 17% of Israelis voted in the first three hours. That is the highest turnout by that mark since 1981. Mansour Abbas, head of the Ra’am party, said he hoped Arab community turnout would surpass 70%. He warned that his party’s vote could determine which candidate forms a government.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right national security minister, voted early in the morning. He warned that if Netanyahu and his allies do not win, it “will be Mansour Abbas’ government.” In Kiryat Shmona, a Netanyahu stronghold near the Lebanese border, a voter tore down a poster of Eisenkot.

Netanyahu has increased threats against Iran ahead of the vote. He appeared in a video this week next to a missile-defense battery and warned Tehran of a “devastating blow” if it attacks Israel. Eisenkot visited communities affected by the 2023 attack early Tuesday. He said any responsible government would start the day in those areas near Gaza.

Eisenkot’s Yashar party filed an urgent complaint about nine incidents where ballot slips were missing, damaged, or turned over. The party suggested the issues were “systematic and deliberate.” Dean Livne, the acting director-general of the elections committee, stated that reports of irregularities were much lower than in previous elections.

No single party has ever won a majority in Israel’s parliament. Leaders must build coalitions to govern. If neither side secures enough seats, weeks of negotiations may follow. Around 330,000 young Israelis eligible to vote for the first time are facing compulsory military service under the shadow of war.