Israel votes amid deep divisions over Netanyahu and the country's future

Israelis vote Tuesday in their first election since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership and the country's future direction at stake. The election follows three years of war in Gaza and conflicts with Lebanon and Iran. A Channel 12 poll shows 21% of voters prioritize the economy and cost of living, while 17% cite military conscription and 14% mention the October 7 security failures. Netanyahu faces challenger Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief, with projections giving Eisenkot's Yashar party 23 Knesset seats versus 21 for Netanyahu's Likud, leaving neither bloc with a clear majority. The election uses proportional representation with a 3.25% electoral threshold, making smaller parties potentially decisive. Arab parties could play a kingmaker role, though Eisenkot rejects a coalition with them. Analysts say a Netanyahu defeat would mainly affect domestic politics, with foreign policy toward Palestine, Iran, and Lebanon likely unchanged.