Israel Election: Netanyahu Faces Tough Challenge as Gadi Eisenkot Leads Opinion Polls

Voting is underway in Israel as citizens head to polling stations to elect a new government, with the outcome drawing international attention. Long queues have been reported at polling booths, while Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square has also witnessed emotional scenes. People who lost loved ones in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks gathered at the square to pay tribute before participating in the voting process. The election is being closely watched as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a major political challenge from opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot, a former chief of the Israel Defense Forces. According to the opinion poll averages cited in the report, Eisenkot’s party is projected to win 54 seats in Israel’s 120-member parliament, while Netanyahu’s Likud party is estimated to secure 50 seats. Neither side appears likely to reach the majority mark of 61 seats independently, raising the possibility of prolonged coalition negotiations after the results are declared. Netanyahu’s political future is at stake as voters weigh his leadership and the government’s handling of the country’s security challenges. He served in the IDF’s elite Sayeret Matkal unit, became Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations and first served as prime minister from 1996 to 1999. He returned to office in 2009 and began his latest term in December 2022. Eisenkot joined the Golani Brigade in 1978 and became Israel’s military chief in 2015, serving until 2019. Key election issues include calls for an investigation into the October 7 Hamas attacks, disputes over military conscription, efforts to limit the Supreme Court’s powers, national security and the question of when the ongoing war will end.