Israel election pits Netanyahu against Eisenkot in race for prime minister

Israel’s general election will take place on Tuesday, 27 October. It is the country’s first vote since the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023 and the subsequent conflicts in Gaza, with Iran, Hezbollah and the Houthis.

Current polling shows a close contest between incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, a former chief of the Israel Defense Forces.

The Knesset has 120 seats, so a government needs 61 for a majority. Israel’s proportional system produces coalition governments, meaning negotiations after the vote could last weeks or months.

Main candidates and possible coalitions

Eisenkot’s support is linked to his military background and relatively recent entry into politics. He formed the Yashar Party last year, lost his soldier son during the first months of the Gaza war and resigned from Netanyahu’s war cabinet in 2024 over disagreements about the conflict. His campaign calls for accountability over the security failures preceding the 7 October attacks.

Other opposition leaders include former prime minister Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman and left-wing politician Yair Golan. Bennett and Lieberman support hardline security policies and permanent Israeli control over much of the occupied West Bank, while Golan supports an Israeli withdrawal from large parts of the territory. They could potentially work with Eisenkot.

Netanyahu is likely to need support from far-right coalition partners again. Some have called for annexing the West Bank and for the “migration” of Palestinians from Gaza, a policy that could amount to the forced displacement of civilians.

Security and domestic issues

Security has dominated the campaign. Nearly 1,200 people were killed in the 7 October attacks and 251 were taken to Gaza as hostages. Netanyahu’s opponents focus on the failures that preceded the assault, while the prime minister again presents himself as the country’s security candidate.

Other major issues include military service for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men, judicial reform and the cost of living. The government’s judicial plans previously prompted mass protests; critics say they could weaken judicial independence and threaten democracy.

Two Arab party blocs are also contesting the election. Arab citizens account for about one-fifth of Israel’s population, but all except one of the leading Jewish parties have ruled out working with them.

Gaza and the West Bank

More than 74,000 people have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since 7 October 2023, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures the UN considers reliable. Israel says it is targeting Hamas operatives and continues to control more than half of the territory.

Netanyahu and Eisenkot both support Donald Trump’s peace plan, under which Hamas would surrender its weapons in exchange for a phased Israeli troop withdrawal. Eisenkot has also pledged to end Hamas rule in Gaza within 18 months, including through military means if necessary.

In the West Bank, Netanyahu’s camp largely supports continued settlement expansion. Eisenkot supports Israeli settlements in general but opposes the E1 project, which would effectively split the West Bank; he also wants to close some unauthorised outposts and crack down on extremist Jewish settlers.

Vote count and government formation

At 22:00 local time on election day, Israeli broadcasters will publish exit polls. Preliminary results are expected the following day, while official results are scheduled for 4 November.

After consulting party leaders, President Isaac Herzog will ask the politician he believes has the best chance of forming a government to try. If that attempt fails, he can nominate another leader; further failure can lead to new elections. Israel held five elections between 2019 and 2022 after parties repeatedly failed to reach agreements.