Israelis Vote Tuesday in Decisive Contest to End or Extend Netanyahu's War Leadership

Israelis go to the polls on Tuesday to decide whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will remain in power after three years of regional conflict.

The election pits Netanyahu, who has led the country since before the 2023 Hamas attack, against a coalition of parties seeking to replace him. Opinion polls indicate a tight contest between the prime minister and his main rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. The outcome remains uncertain because Israel’s parliamentary system requires leaders to build coalitions, as no single party has ever won an outright majority.

The path to this vote began with the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas, which sparked the war in Gaza and related conflicts across the region. This is the first national election held since that event. The campaign has focused on two main questions: whether Netanyahu should continue leading the country and what kind of state Israel should be. Voters are weighing a government heavily influenced by religious and ultranationalist forces against one anchored in liberal and secular values.

Political dynamics have shifted as nonaligned Arab parties push for high voter turnout. These groups could emerge as decisive factors if they agree to support one candidate over the other. If neither Netanyahu’s coalition nor the opposition bloc secures enough seats to form a majority, Israel faces weeks of negotiations before a leader is declared.

Tensions with Iran hang over the election, with Netanyahu ramping up threats against Tehran ahead of the vote. This week, he appeared in a video standing beside a missile-defense battery, warning that Iran would face a devastating blow if it attacked Israel.

Netanyahu’s supporters view him as a steady leader who has guided Israel through multiple wars while protecting its Jewish identity. They argue he is keeping an interventionist judiciary in check. His detractors describe him as a polarizing figure who has extended the Gaza war and the hostage crisis for political reasons. They accuse him of undermining the independent judiciary and allowing ultra-Orthodox religious Jews to avoid compulsory military service.

Eisenkot is seen by his backers as a capable leader with strong security credentials who can serve as a bulwark against illiberalism. His son and two nephews were killed in Gaza, a loss that his supporters say gives him a deep understanding of the country’s current pain. Parties likely to support Eisenkot have promised to improve Israel’s international standing, conscript ultra-Orthodox men, and bolster judicial independence.

The election follows a period in which Israel’s traditional allies have expressed growing frustration with its policies. Public support among Americans has dropped, and partners in Europe and other regions have imposed sanctions in recent months. The result of Tuesday’s vote will determine whether Israel continues under Netanyahu’s leadership or shifts direction after a turbulent four-year term.