Israel votes in first election since October 7 attack as Netanyahu faces crucial test
Israelis head to the polls on Tuesday for the first time since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, in a closely contested election seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The vote follows three years of regional wars, with Netanyahu running neck and neck with centrist rival Gadi Eisenkot.
Israelis are heading to the polls on Tuesday for the first time since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. The election is viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing a fight for political survival following three years of regional wars in Gaza and with Iran, alongside Israel's deepening international isolation. Netanyahu, who has served 19 years in office, is running neck and neck in the polls against centrist rival Gadi Eisenkot.
Netanyahu is campaigning on his wartime leadership and his alliance with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has endorsed him. According to the Daily Maverick and The Korea Times, Netanyahu stated that Trump is prepared to act to remove the Iranian threat only if Netanyahu remains in power. In contrast, Eisenkot has accused Netanyahu of using lies and fear-mongering in his campaign.
Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff who served from 2015 to 2019, is leading a rival alliance with supporters on the right and in the center. The New Straits Times reports that Eisenkot has vowed to unite Israelis following Netanyahu's divisive tenure and aims to restore Israel's international image. He has also promised to crack down on extremist West Bank settlers.
Brief written by urgent.news from France 24, Daily Maverick, The Korea Times, New Straits Times — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
