Israel Elections: First Polls Since 7 Oct Attacks; Netanyahu Faces Crucial Test Amid High Turnout

Israel is holding its first parliamentary election since the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks, marking a critical test for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party. Voter turnout has surged to record levels, surpassing benchmarks from 1973 and 1988 with 45 percent casting ballots by mid-afternoon. Centrist rivals and opposition parties, including Yesh Atid, are challenging the coalition government amid sharp divides over national security, the war in West Asia, corruption, and the…