Israel election puts Benjamin Netanyahu's future in focus

Israelis will vote in the first national election since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, in a contest that centers on the future of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the security failures that preceded the assault.

Campaign focus and contenders

The campaign has been dominated by questions about Netanyahu’s leadership, the intelligence and military lapses before the October 7, 2023 attack, and the conduct of the military operations that followed. Opponent Gadi Eizenkot, a former Chief of the General Staff, is presenting himself as a centrist challenger and has pledged an inquiry into the failures as well as efforts to repair ties with international allies.

Voters are also split over domestic issues such as the high cost of living, the exemption of ultra-Orthodox Jews from mandatory military service, and the judicial reform drive that has polarised Israeli politics in recent years.

Despite sharp disagreements over military policy in Gaza and the wider region, attitudes toward the Palestinians and the prospect of a Palestinian state have not become dominant themes in the public debate during this campaign.

Some citizens are calling for a change of government to restore national unity and address domestic pressures; others argue that Netanyahu should remain in power given the ongoing security threats. The election outcome will determine the composition of the Knesset; forming a government requires support from at least 61 members, so coalition talks will be decisive.

Photo: press material from the event