Voters in Israel go to the polls on Tuesday, October 27 (today) for the general election that will determine the political future of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The vote, considered one of the most critical elections in the country's history, is the first major election test for Netanyahu's leadership since the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023.
According to Reuters, the elections are being held in the shadow of the deep political and social turmoil that Israel has experienced in the last three years. The wars in Gaza and Lebanon, conflicts with Iran, the country's increasing isolation in the international arena, and the controversial policies of the right-wing coalition led by Netanyahu are the main issues on the election agenda.
However, Netanyahu, who is Israel's longest-serving leader with a total of 19 years as prime minister, maintains his strong political position. The increasing strength of nationalist politics in the country and the fragmented parliamentary structure may allow Netanyahu to form a government again, depending on the election results.
One of the most important topics of the elections for Netanyahu's opponents is the responsibility for the security and intelligence failures experienced during the October 7, 2023 attacks. Opposition parties are promising a national investigation into the attacks.
WHO IS THE RACE BETWEEN?
Opinion polls show a close race between Netanyahu's Likud Party and its right-wing allies and the opposition alliance led by former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot.
Known for his tough stance on security policies, Eisenkot receives support from both center and right-wing voters. Voting started at 07:00 local time. The polls will close at 22:00.
According to data from the Israeli Central Election Commission, approximately 7.3 million voters in the country have the right to vote. Approximately 330 thousand of them will go to the polls for the first time.
According to data from the Viterbi Center for Public Opinion and Policy Research at the Israel Democracy Institute, 13 percent of voters have not yet decided which party they will vote for.
THE FRIGHT-RIGHT CAN DETERMINE DESTINY
It is stated that Netanyahu may need the support of far-right leaders Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich in order to form a government again. Both politicians were the target of sanctions from some Western countries on charges that they encouraged violence against Palestinians.
The Jewish Power Party, led by Ben-Gvir, increased its support in public opinion polls. However, neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot has a clear path to power.
If the 61 MPs required to form a government in the 120-seat parliament cannot be reached, Netanyahu can continue his duty as interim prime minister until new elections are held next year.
EISENKOT'S POLICIES
Eisenkot joined the war cabinet established by Netanyahu after the October 7 attacks, but left his post eight months later, criticizing the prime minister's leadership.
Eisenkot argues that the new government should prevent Iran from obtaining military nuclear capacity.
According to the opposition leader, this goal can be achieved by using military force when necessary or through a US-backed diplomatic arrangement.
Despite his opposition to Netanyahu, Eisenkot, like most Jewish parties in Israel, does not support the two-state solution that has formed the basis of decades of peace talks with the Palestinians.
However, Eisenkot criticizes the violence of Jewish settlers against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
The increasing settler violence since 2023 has also led to tension in Israel's relations with Western countries.
Eisenkot also opposes Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich.
PARTICIPATION OF ARAB VOTER
The participation rate of Palestinian Arab voters who are Israeli citizens is seen as one of the important factors that can affect the election results and coalition calculations.
High turnout from Arab voters could help the opposition led by Eisenkot gain an advantage in parliamentary arithmetic.
Eisenkot had announced that he would not form a coalition with Arab parties, citing the lack of common values.
However, political analysts are considering the possibility that Arab parties may provide external support to a minority government led by Eisenkot in order to remove Netanyahu from power.
