Israelis cast ballots to replace Netanyahu after three years of war

Israelis headed to the polls on Tuesday to determine their next leader following three years of active conflict and domestic division.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a fragmented opposition led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. Opinion polls point to a narrow contest where no single faction holds a clear path to power. In Israel’s parliamentary system, no party has ever secured an outright majority, forcing leaders to build coalitions to govern.

The race has narrowed to a standoff between Netanyahu’s religious and ultranationalist bloc and a coalition of parties seeking his removal. Nonaligned Arab parties are urging high turnout, positioning themselves as potential kingmakers. If neither side amasses enough seats for a majority, the country faces weeks of negotiations before a prime minister is named.

Tensions were visible at polling stations across the country. In Kiryat Shmona, a Netanyahu stronghold near the Lebanese border, a voter kicked and tore down an Eisenkot poster as the day began. In Tel Aviv, families of those killed in the October 7, 2023 attack, and former hostages observed a moment of silence before voting opened. Yona Adam, whose daughter Mapal Adam died in the attack, told the crowd to remember all those whose voices are no more.

Netanyahu intensified rhetoric against Iran ahead of the vote. He appeared in a video this week next to a missile-defense battery, warning Tehran it would face a devastating blow if it attacked Israel. The election marks the first national vote since the 2023 Hamas attack triggered the war in Gaza and related regional conflicts.

The outcome will define the direction of the state. Netanyahu’s supporters cite his steady leadership during multiple wars and his efforts to maintain Jewish identity while checking the judiciary. Critics argue he has prolonged the hostage crisis for political gain, undermined democratic institutions, and allowed ultra-Orthodox men to avoid compulsory military service.

Eisenkot’s backers view him as a security expert capable of reversing illiberal trends. His son and two nephews were killed in Gaza. Parties aligned with him have promised to improve Israel’s international standing, conscript ultra-Orthodox men, and bolster judicial independence.