Netanyahu Faces Eisenkot in First Israeli Election Since 2023 Attacks

Benjamin Netanyahu entered his fourth term as Israeli prime minister in December 2022, and he faces a direct challenge from former military chief Gadi Eisenkot in the first parliamentary election held since the attacks of October 7, 2023. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time on Tuesday and will close at 10 p.m.

Thirty-six electoral lists are competing for the 120 seats in the Knesset. The goal is to form the country’s 38th government. Netanyahu’s current coalition of right-wing, far-right, and ultra-Orthodox parties is the first Israeli cabinet since 1988 to complete a full four-year term.

Recent polls indicate that Netanyahu’s bloc may fall short of the 61 seats required for a majority. Projections place his alliance at approximately 50 seats. Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar party, is projected to outperform Netanyahu’s Likud party in individual vote share. However, neither camp is expected to secure a governing majority on its own.

Netanyahu has served as prime minister for more than 19 years across three separate terms. His first term ran from 1996 to 1999, followed by a period in office from 2009 to 2021. His current tenure began in late 2022. Eisenkot seeks to end that streak by forming a new government.

Palestinian-led parties are projected to win between 14 and 16 seats combined. This number could give them leverage in coalition negotiations, as both the opposition and the incumbent bloc have ruled out including them in a governing cabinet. Palestinian citizens make up roughly 18 percent of eligible voters, or about 1.17 million people.

Turnout among this group is a key variable. The Arab48 news outlet reported high early voting in Palestinian-majority towns. Pollsters suggest that a turnout rate between 60 and 70 percent, up from 53 percent in 2022, would help the Ra’am party and the Joint List secure their projected seats.

Israeli television networks will broadcast exit polls immediately after voting ends. Unofficial results are expected overnight, with the full count completed by October 30. Official results are due on November 4.