Israelis are set to have a national election on October 27, marking the first since the October 7 Hamas attack, which led to a war in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. Current polls suggest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will likely lose. The attack damaged his security reputation, and while many support the military actions against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, trust in Netanyahu’s leadership is low. His government’s handling of religion and state matters is also unpopular.
Netanyahu’s main rivals include Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief who has gained popularity, especially following the personal loss of a son in Gaza. Eisenkot presents himself as a political outsider contrasting with Netanyahu’s long tenure and corruption issues. Other key opponents are former Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, who had previously ousted Netanyahu in 2021, forming a unique coalition government that included an Islamist Arab party. Former defense minister Avigdor Lieberman, once a Netanyahu ally, is now a vocal critic.
Israel’s elections function through a parliamentary system where citizens vote for the 120-seat Knesset, typically every four years, but due to instability, full terms are rare. The 2022 election saw Netanyahu reclaim power leading a right-wing coalition. The upcoming election is notable as it will follow a completed Knesset term.
Coalition governments are necessary since no party has achieved a majority. Seats are allocated based on proportional representation, allowing small parties significant influence in government formation. Netanyahu has depended on ultra-Orthodox parties, whose demands during wartime are particularly contentious.
Political parties had to submit their candidate lists by September, meaning the competition could shift. Netanyahu’s coalition includes his Likud party and pro-settler allies, while rival parties, such as Eisenkot’s Yashar, Bennett and Lapid’s Together, Lieberman’s Israel Our Home, and various Arab and left-wing parties, seek to challenge him.
With information from Reuters
