Israel goes to the polls on Tuesday for the first time since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, to assess the performance of veteran Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the right-wing changes in the country.
Electoral Context
The elections are taking place while Israelis are affected by three years of multifaceted wars in the region. These wars, which began on October 7, still influence public mindset and emotions, with questions about accountability and security at the center of the electoral campaign.
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This voting includes nearly 7.3 million eligible voters, more than half a million of whom are young people voting for the first time. Polls show that the majority of these young people identify themselves as center-right or right-wing individuals.
Domestic and Foreign Tensions
Israel appears increasingly isolated on the international stage, especially given the devastating military campaign in Gaza, increased settlement construction, and violence in the West Bank. Netanyahu, who has been in power as Prime Minister of Israel for over 19 years, has heavily relied on his security credentials during this period and emphasizes his close relationship with former U.S. President Donald Trump.
As an experienced political pragmatist, Netanyahu seeks to maintain his power, but he faces significant criticism for his lack of accountability regarding the October 7 attack and previous security failures. In contrast, Gadi Eisenkot, his main rival and former army chief, has promised to establish an independent inquiry commission into these failures.
The electoral competition reaches its peak as Netanyahu and Eisenkot seek to attract the votes of the 21 percent of Arab Israelis, who could act as 'kingmakers' if the results are close.
The final results of this election may take several days, and it is likely that no single party will reach the 61 seats necessary to form a majority in the 120-member parliament. This could lead to complex coalitions and, if no agreement is reached, new elections.
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