{
  "id": 16785501,
  "title": "Live: Polls to close in Israel's most seismic election in decades",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/live-polls-to-close-in-israels-most-seismic-election-in-decades",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-27T19:30:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-10-28/israel-election-blog-october-28/107259780"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nAt 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.\n\nThe 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.",
  "summary": "Israelis have cast their vote for the nation's next prime minister overnight, but we won't know who the country's next leader will be for weeks. Join our experts for a live explanation of why.",
  "key_points": [
    "Polls close in Israel's historic election",
    "Benjamin Netanyahu faces opposition from Gadi Eisenkot",
    "Winner must form coalition of 61+ Knesset seats"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Israel: October 7 families remember victims as voters head to polls",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/israel-october-7-families-remember-victims-as-voters-head-to-polls",
        "published": "2026-10-27T08:08:49.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Ra’am’s Abbas calls for sustained voting to ‘bring down’ Netanyahu",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/raams-abbas-calls-for-sustained-voting-to-bring-down-netanyahu",
        "published": "2026-10-27T17:09:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Arab parties in Israel accuse Netanyahu of inciting hatred to scare voters",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/arab-parties-in-israel-accuse-netanyahu-of-inciting-hatred-to-scare",
        "published": "2026-10-27T18:11:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Haaretz",
        "title": "Israel's Elections Committee rejects Likud petition to extend voting hours",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/israels-elections-committee-rejects-likud-petition-to-extend-voting",
        "published": "2026-10-27T18:51:51.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Elections in Israel: All election polls and the battle to form a government",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/elections-in-israel-all-election-polls-and-the-battle-to-form-a",
        "published": "2026-10-27T19:11:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "Australia news LIVE: Nearly 800 threats against MPs in six months, AFP says, as Labor bolsters safety after Haines attack; Israelis head to polls for first election since October 7 attacks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/australia-news-live-nearly-800-threats-against-mps-in-six-months-afp-16789325",
        "published": "2026-10-27T20:04:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "Australia news LIVE: Nearly 800 threats against MPs in six months, AFP says, as Labor bolsters safety after Haines attack; Israelis head to polls for first election since October 7 attacks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/australia-news-live-nearly-800-threats-against-mps-in-six-months-afp",
        "published": "2026-10-27T20:04:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Israel awaits election results after turnout soars",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/israel-awaits-election-results-after-turnout-soars",
        "published": "2026-10-27T20:05:16.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "People of Israel, Reservists-Economic both projected to fall short of threshold, exit polls show",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/27/people-of-israel-reservists-economic-both-projected-to-fall-short-of",
        "published": "2026-10-27T20:44:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}