Israelis vote in elections crucial to Netanyahu's future

Israelis cast their votes, today (Tuesday, October 27, 2026), in close parliamentary elections that may end the rule of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and constitute a turning point in a country suffering from deep division and international isolation.

The elections are being held in the wake of three years of regional wars on multiple fronts sparked by the attack, while the shock is still strongly present and issues of accountability and security are at the forefront of the election campaign. The hotly contested elections come at a time when Israel appears more isolated on the international scene, due to its devastating military campaign in Gaza, the acceleration of settlement construction, the escalation of violence in the occupied West Bank, and the growth of extreme right-wing religious nationalism.

The latest published opinion polls showed a tie between Netanyahu, the longest-serving leader in Israel's history, and his main centrist rival, Gadi Eisenkot, the former chief of staff and a recent arrival to politics, whose calm nature is seen as the opposite of the current prime minister's style.

About 7.3 million people are entitled to vote, including more than half a million young men and women who will vote for the first time. Polls show that the overwhelming majority of them classify themselves as center-right or right-wing. It is estimated that tens of thousands of Israelis have returned by air from abroad to participate in elections that are seen as decisive in defining their country's future identity.