Parliamentary election: Will Netanyahu make it again? Israel has a choice – the most important questions and answers

Dusseldorf. The first parliamentary election is underway in Israel since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad flew home specifically to vote. The turnout is likely to be unusually high, and many of the returnees are likely to support the opposition.

According to the Central Election Commission, 16.7 percent of eligible voters cast their votes in the first three hours. This is the highest rate at this point since 1981. Surveys suggest that forming a government will be difficult and could take a long time.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is running for another term in office. He points to the military operations of the past three years that have made Israel safer. His opponents, however, consider the country's longest-serving head of government to be the greatest threat to Israel. The polling stations close at 9 p.m. CET, followed by the first forecasts from the television stations. The most important questions and answers:

They elect the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. It has 120 seats, and eligible voters decide the 26th parliament. The election actually takes place every four years, but early elections are common. The previous election took place in November 2022. At least 61 seats are required for a majority in the Knesset.