What Netanyahu might do after the election is the real danger

Israelis will head to the polls this Tuesday for the first election held since the October 7, 2023, attack. The vote comes amid deep divisions and questions regarding security and accountability, as the country faces increasing international isolation due to the military campaign in Gaza, settlement construction, and violence in the West Bank.

Approximately 7.3 million people are eligible to vote, including over half a million young people who are voting for the first time and who overwhelmingly identify as right-wing or centre-right.

The campaign features a close race between long-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his centrist rival, Gadi Eisenkot. According to Dawn, Eisenkot is a former military chief viewed as the antithesis of the incumbent. Haaretz reports that Netanyahu is seeking voter trust without accepting responsibility for the events of October 7, suggesting that if he loses the election, he may attempt to ignite another war.

Brief written by urgent.news from Haaretz, Dawn — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.