Netanyahu faces tough election battle as Israelis vote amid wars and political divisions

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has spent 19 years in office. Despite mounting criticism, his right-wing political base and Israel’s fragmented parliamentary system could help him remain in power.

Opinion polls indicate a close contest between Netanyahu’s Likud party and its right-wing allies and a rival alliance led by Gadi Eisenkot, a former Israeli military chief who has attracted support from both right-wing and centrist voters.

Netanyahu has based his campaign on his wartime leadership and his close relationship with US President Donald Trump, who has endorsed him and joined Israel in military action against Iran.

On Sunday, Netanyahu said Trump was prepared to take further action to remove what he described as the Iranian threat, but only if Netanyahu remained in power.

Eisenkot accused the prime minister of relying on fear, falsehoods and threats. He said Trump would cooperate fully with any leader elected by the Israeli public.

Netanyahu may once again need the support of far-right politicians Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich to secure a parliamentary majority. Both have faced sanctions from some Western countries over allegations of inciting violence against Palestinians. Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party has also gained support in opinion polls.

Neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot has a clear route to forming a government. If neither can secure a coalition in the 120-member parliament, Netanyahu could remain as caretaker prime minister until another election is held next year.

Polling stations are scheduled to remain open from 7am to 10pm local time.

The election comes after one of the most turbulent periods in Israel’s history, marked by the October 7 attacks, the military offensive in Gaza and deep divisions over Netanyahu’s government.

For many of his opponents, the central issue is accountability for the security failures that allowed the Hamas-led attacks to take place. The attacks killed around 1,200 people in Israel, while 251 people were taken hostage, according to Israeli figures.

Mali Hajaj, an Education Ministry employee supporting Eisenkot, said establishing a national inquiry was essential for the country’s recovery.

Another voter, Lisa Tortor, said she hoped Netanyahu would leave office so a new government could repair the damage to Israel and its international image.

However, 18-year-old Likud supporter Nof Gabay rejected the argument that Netanyahu was responsible for the October 7 failures, describing him as the right leader for Israel. Gabay also praised his handling of the war.

Israel’s military offensive has devastated large parts of Gaza. Gaza health authorities say Israeli attacks have killed 74,000 people.

Israel has also inflicted heavy losses on Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon and exchanged attacks with Iran. In 2025, Israel carried out a 12-day aerial campaign against Iranian nuclear sites, followed by joint US-Israeli military action against Iran this year.

Eisenkot has said Israel’s next government must prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons for military use, either through military action or a diplomatic agreement backed by the United States.

On the Palestinian issue, Eisenkot opposes the two-state solution, which has been the basis of decades of international peace efforts. However, he has criticised violence by Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, where attacks have increased since 2023.

He has also opposed Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich.

Meanwhile, some voters in traditional Likud strongholds have begun campaigning against Netanyahu, while others have turned away from him amid a long-running corruption trial over charges he denies.

A high turnout among Israel’s Arab minority could also influence the election outcome. Although Eisenkot has ruled out joining forces with Arab parties, analysts believe they could support a minority government led by him to prevent Netanyahu from remaining in office.

Israeli political analyst Amotz Asa-El of the Shalom Hartman Institute predicted a narrow result, saying neither side was likely to secure a landslide victory.