Israelis cast ballots in high-stakes vote to determine Netanyahu's fate

Benjamin Netanyahu faces a decisive vote in Israel’s Tuesday national election, a contest widely viewed as a referendum on his leadership since the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. Polls suggest a narrow margin between his bloc and the coalition led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. The outcome will determine if the 77-year-old premier continues his nearly two-decade hold on Israeli politics or exits on a bitter note.

Voters select political parties, which then form alliances to secure a majority in the 120-member Knesset. No single party has ever won the 61 seats required for a majority. With approximately a dozen parties expected to win seats, the tight results could trigger weeks or months of coalition negotiations. The Central Election Committee reports that more than 7.3 million Israelis are eligible to vote, including roughly 330,000 young people who attended high school during the war.

Emotions ran high at polling stations across the country. In Jerusalem, Noga Mizrahi traveled from the kibbutz Nirim, which was attacked in 2023, to cast her ballot. She described the moment as critical, stating it has never been more so. In Kiryat Shmona, a stronghold for Netanyahu near the Lebanese border, a man tore down a campaign poster of his main rival, Eisenkot. In Tel Aviv, families of victims and former hostages observed a moment of silence. Yona Adam, the mother of Mapal Adam, urged the crowd to remember those whose voices are no more.

Eisenkot campaigned in Ofakim, a southern community hit by the 2023 assault. The visit aimed to highlight security failures and Netanyahu’s refusal to establish a state commission of inquiry. Eisenkot lost his son and two nephews in combat in Gaza. In Jerusalem, Nisim Cohen, a reservist, said he was voting for Netanyahu to continue wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran until Israelis can sleep peacefully. Cohen argued that the prime minister is not responsible for the events of October 7.

Thousands of volunteer observers monitored the process to ensure procedural integrity. Eyal Sher, who volunteered with the civil society group Elections Guards, expressed concern about a corrupt government seeking to stay in power. He noted that every vote counts in such a critical election. Around 12,000 polling stations across Israel closed at 10 p.m. in most locations. Ballots are counted manually at each station immediately after voting ends.

U.S. President Donald Trump backed Netanyahu’s reelection earlier this month. The late endorsement was a setback for the Likud leader, who had previously cited his close ties with the Republican president as a key advantage. Candidates focused their campaigns on Netanyahu’s role in the security breakdown, his efforts to exempt ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service, and a 2023 judicial overhaul. There was little debate over Israel’s conduct in Gaza, which led to an international arrest warrant against Netanyahu, or about the occupation of parts of southern Lebanon and Syria.

The election results will shape the next phase of Israeli politics. A victory would cement Netanyahu’s image as a political survivor, while a defeat could open the door to a new era in the country’s governance. The tight race between the two main blocs leaves the composition of the next government uncertain until coalition talks conclude.