Israelis vote in election where no leader has a clear path to power

Israeli voters cast ballots on Tuesday in an election where neither leading candidate is projected to secure the 61 parliamentary seats needed to form a majority government. Polling released on Friday showed incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot in a near tie. Because both their political blocs are short of the majority threshold, the country faces a prolonged period of coalition negotiations.

The campaign focused heavily on national security. Opponents of Netanyahu criticized his handling of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, which killed nearly 1,200 people and resulted in the capture of 251 hostages. They demanded an independent commission of inquiry, a step Netanyahu resisted to avoid what he described as a biased process. Netanyahu framed his candidacy around security, citing strategic victories in regional conflicts and his relationship with US President Donald Trump.

Eisenkot leads the Yashar Party, the central figure in a coalition of parties known as the change bloc. This group includes former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, former defense minister Avigdor Lieberman, and former general Yair Golan. Netanyahu’s path to power depends on renewing his alliance with far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, which currently form the most right-wing coalition in Israeli history.

Two Arab party blocs also ran for seats, representing approximately one-fifth of the population. Most major Jewish parties ruled out formal alliances with these groups, though informal support remains a possibility. The opposition also raised concerns about democratic erosion, citing Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial and his push for judicial reforms that sparked mass protests.

Recent reports added tension to the final days of the campaign. Channel 12 reported that Netanyahu sought a military confrontation with Iran before the vote, a plan opposed by his military chief Eyal Zamir. CNN reported that Netanyahu also lobbied President Trump for new strikes on Iran, a request Trump reportedly rejected. Netanyahu denied both accounts. He also drew attention for posting an AI-generated image of a nuclear bomb hitting Tel Aviv, a move Eisenkot called hysterical.

The issue of conscription also divided the electorate. Netanyahu’s government had failed to enforce a Supreme Court ruling requiring the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men in full-time religious study. Eisenkot, who took a similar position on Gaza, pledged to end Hamas rule within 18 months through a US-led peace plan or military force. He supported West Bank settlements but wanted to curb extremist settler violence.

Exit polls are scheduled for release at 22:00 local time. Votes from hundreds of thousands of soldiers and reservists will be counted later, potentially favoring right-wing parties. If no bloc reaches a majority, Israel risks another period of political deadlock similar to the five elections held between 2019 and 2022.