Israel votes Tuesday as Netanyahu faces tight race for coalition majority

Israel holds parliamentary elections Tuesday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeking to retain power amid debate over his government's handling of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and subsequent wars. The vote is widely seen as a test of his leadership. Opposition leaders, including former military chief Gadi Eisenkot and former prime minister Naftali Bennett, are challenging Netanyahu's right-wing coalition. Opinion polls indicate neither bloc is assured of the 61-seat majority needed to form a government in the 120-member Knesset. Israel uses a nationwide proportional representation system with closed party lists and a 3.25 percent electoral threshold. Netanyahu faces corruption charges and an ICC arrest warrant, while security and accountability for the 2023 attack dominate the campaign.