Israel Votes With No Clear Winner

Israeli citizens are casting ballots in a general election that polling suggests will leave the country without a clear governing majority. The race pits incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief who leads the newly formed Yashar Party. Friday polls indicate a near tie between the two leaders, yet neither of their political blocs is projected to reach the 61 seats necessary to form a coalition.

The campaign centered heavily on national security and the government's handling of the October 7 Hamas attacks. Opposition figures criticized Netanyahu for the security failures that allowed nearly 1,200 people to be killed and 251 taken hostage. They demanded an independent commission of inquiry, a move Netanyahu resisted by arguing it would be biased against him. Netanyahu positioned himself as a security expert, citing strategic victories in the region and his relationship with President Donald Trump.

Eisenkot heads the change bloc, a group of parties united by their goal to remove Netanyahu from power. The alliance includes right-wing figures Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman, as well as left-leaning former general Yair Golan. Netanyahu's path to power depends on maintaining an alliance with far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, forming the most right-wing coalition in Israeli history. Two Arab party blocs also participate, representing about one-fifth of the population, though most leading Jewish parties have ruled out working with them.

Recent weeks saw Netanyahu push for pre-election military action against Iran. Channel 12 reported that he sought strikes before voting day but was opposed by Military Chief Eyal Zamir. CNN later reported that Netanyahu also asked Trump for approval of new strikes, a request the US president declined. Netanyahu denied both reports. He also generated attention by posting an AI-generated image of a nuclear bomb hitting Tel Aviv, a move Eisenkot called hysterical.

Issues of conscription and democratic norms also shaped the debate. Netanyahu's government has failed to enforce a Supreme Court ruling requiring ultra-Orthodox Jewish men in full-time religious study to serve in the military. Critics argue this exemption is divisive given the high number of conscripts fighting in recent wars. Eisenkot, who faces less scrutiny on Gaza policy, pledged to end Hamas rule in the territory within 18 months using a US-led peace plan or military force if necessary.

The voting process includes approximately 70,000 citizens who returned from abroad to cast ballots. Hundreds of thousands are voting for the first time. Israeli broadcasters will publish exit polls at 10:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Many votes from soldiers and reservists will not be counted until Wednesday, a delay that may benefit right-wing parties with strong military support. Likud party leaders will gather in Jerusalem to watch results, while Yashar party officials will assemble in Tel Aviv.

If no bloc secures a majority, Israel risks political deadlock. In that scenario, new elections would be called, and Netanyahu would remain as interim prime minister. Between 2019 and 2022, Israel held five elections in a similar cycle of failed coalition attempts. The current vote could produce an unexpected outcome if a third leader withholds support unless offered the premiership.