Arab parties in Israel accuse Netanyahu of inciting hatred to scare voters

Polling stations in Israel are closing amid a historic election seen as a test for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The vote is widely regarded as a referendum on Netanyahu's leadership, particularly his response to the October 7 attacks that left around 1,200 people dead and 251 hostage. Leading the opposition is former Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who heads the Yashar party.

At a primary school in Jerusalem's Rehavia suburb, close to Netanyahu's residences, voters expressed frustration with the incumbent's long tenure and his handling of recent conflicts. Meira Partem, a voter, called for a new government without Netanyahu, citing a lack of accountability for the defense failures during the October 7 attacks. Yosef Abraham, another voter, argued that Netanyahu should not be re-elected, stating that the prime minister should not be loyal only to himself.

The polls are expected to close in the next hour, but the winner might not be immediately clear due to Israel's parliamentary system. The leader who can form a coalition with a majority of 61 or more Knesset seats will take office after several weeks of political negotiations. Netanyahu's Likud Party HQ is filled with journalists, while the public is fewer in number. The outcome of this election carries significant international implications, particularly for the United States and Australian perspectives.