Israel votes as polls close with no clear winner in sight

Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot are the central figures in Israel's parliamentary election as voters head to the polls on Tuesday. The contest follows three years of war and deep division over the nation's direction. No single party has ever secured an outright majority in Israel, meaning the outcome will depend on coalition building.

Opinion polls indicate a tight race between Netanyahu and Eisenkot. The outcome may hinge on the turnout of nonaligned Arab parties, who are urging their communities to vote in large numbers. If neither side secures enough seats for a majority, weeks of negotiations could follow before a leader is chosen.

Netanyahu has intensified threats against Iran in the lead up to the vote. In a video released this week, he stood next to a missile defense battery and warned Tehran would face a devastating blow if it attacked Israel. The tensions with Iran hang heavily over the election, adding a layer of security urgency to the domestic political debate.

This is Israel's first national vote since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. In Tel Aviv, families of those killed and former hostages held a moment of silence before polls opened. Yona Adam, whose daughter Mapal Adam died in the attack, asked voters to remember those whose voices are no longer heard. The election serves as a referendum on Netanyahu's long tenure and the type of state Israel wants to be.

The choice represents a split between religious and ultranationalist forces and liberal secular values. Netanyahu's supporters view him as a steady hand who has guided Israel through multiple wars. They believe he is protecting the country's Jewish identity while checking an interventionist judiciary. His detractors argue he is a polarizing figure who has extended the war in Gaza for political reasons.

Critics of Netanyahu accuse him of undermining the independent judiciary and weakening democratic norms. They also point to his role in a system that allows ultra-Orthodox religious Jews to avoid compulsory military service. The ongoing corruption trial against the prime minister adds to the scrutiny of his leadership. His base sees him as a consummate statesman, while opponents see a leader who has dragged on the hostage crisis for political gain.

Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief, is viewed by supporters as a capable leader with strong security credentials. His son and two nephews were killed in Gaza, a personal loss that his backers say connects him to the nation's pain. Parties likely to support Eisenkot have vowed to improve Israel's international standing and work to conscript ultra-Orthodox men. They also plan to bolster the independence of the judiciary.

Israel has faced growing isolation since the 2023 attack, with traditional allies criticizing its conduct in Gaza and the West Bank. Public support among Americans has dropped, and partners in Europe have imposed sanctions in recent months. In Kiryat Shmona, a Netanyahu stronghold near the Lebanese border, emotions ran high as polls opened. One man was seen tearing down a poster of Eisenkot, a small sign of the intensity surrounding the vote.