LONDON: (Reuters) Israelis will vote on October 27 in a closely contested general election, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing opposition led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.
The election, the first since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, will test public confidence in Netanyahu’s leadership and his government’s handling of the attacks and subsequent wars in Gaza and the wider region.
Recent opinion polls suggest that neither Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition nor the opposition is assured of securing the 61 seats needed for a majority in Israel’s 120-member parliament, the Knesset. The outcome could therefore depend on smaller parties and difficult coalition negotiations. Key issues include national security, military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews, the economy and accountability for the security failures of 2023. The election could reshape Israel’s political direction, although forming a stable government may prove difficult even after votes are counted.
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