Israelis vote Tuesday in bid to end Netanyahu's long tenure

Israeli voters head to the polls on Tuesday to select members of the Knesset, a move that will determine the next prime minister. The election is widely viewed as a direct challenge to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has served longer than any other leader in the country's history. Polling data indicates a close contest between Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, the former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces.

The voting process does not involve selecting a single candidate for prime minister. Instead, citizens cast ballots for political parties. These parties must then negotiate to form a coalition that commands a majority in the 120-seat parliament. No single party has ever secured a majority on its own. After polls close late Tuesday, negotiations to build a governing alliance will begin, potentially lasting weeks or months before a new head of government is named.

The campaign has centered on the events of October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants killed 1,200 people and abducted 251 others. This attack remains the deadliest day in Israeli history. A survey by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 68% of Jewish Israelis cite their attitudes toward that date as a primary factor in their voting choice. Candidates focused on the security failures of that day and the societal burden of subsequent wars, rather than the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Netanyahu has resisted calls for a commission of inquiry regarding the October 7 attacks. He maintains a hawkish stance on regional threats, including Iran. His opponents criticize his role in the security breakdown and his efforts to exempt ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service. This policy has drawn public anger during a period of protracted conflict.

Military service remains a key issue for roughly a quarter of Jewish voters. Netanyahu's coalitions have historically relied on ultra-Orthodox parties that demand exemptions for men engaged in religious studies. Eisenkot, who lost his son and two nephews in combat in Gaza, has pledged to end these de facto exemptions. He leads the centrist Yashar party, which is the largest opposition force.

Netanyahu, 77, leads the nationalistic Likud party, Israel's largest political group. Eisenkot, 66, entered politics in 2022 after a four-decade military career. Other prominent figures in the race include Naftali Bennett, a 54-year-old former prime minister running on a joint ticket with Yair Lapid. Itamar Ben-Gvir, 50, leads a far-right ultranationalist party within the current government. Yair Golan, 64, heads the Democrats, a center-left party that supports establishing a Palestinian state.

The Palestinian question played a smaller role in the domestic campaign than in international discourse. Most Israelis are opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu used the slogan "Right or Palestine" to accuse rivals of planning to establish a state. No major candidate has advocated for a return to the peace process. Mansour Abbas, leader of the Ra'am party, focused his campaign on crime in Arab communities rather than the broader conflict.

International factors are influencing the election's stakes. The United States and Israel launched a joint war against Iran on February 28. Regional talks continue as anxieties about renewed conflict persist. President Donald Trump endorsed Netanyahu last week, providing a boost to the incumbent. The U.S. midterm election is scheduled for next week, with Israeli policies featuring prominently in American campaigns.

Israel's global standing has declined due to the war in Gaza. An international arrest warrant exists against Netanyahu, and rights groups and U.N. officials have accused the country of committing genocide, a claim Israel denies. The next government will face the task of repairing international relationships.