Israel election: Netanyahu faces war-time test as Iran conflict shapes vote

Israel's general election campaign has reached its final stage amid the ongoing war crisis with Iran in West Asia, with parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. Analysts predict no single party will secure a clear majority in the 120-seat Knesset, requiring at least 61 seats to form a government. Five main scenarios are emerging: a Netanyahu-led conservative coalition, an opposition-led government, a national unity government, an Arab-backed coalition, or another round of elections if no coalition succeeds. This is the first general election since the October 7, 2023 attacks, with the three-year war environment reshaping the electoral landscape. Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot campaigns on Netanyahu's accountability for security failures, while Netanyahu positions himself as the necessary wartime leader against Iran.