Israeli election tests Netanyahu's leadership after Oct. 7

Israelis vote Tuesday in general elections with polls showing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party and the opposition coalition nearly tied, making the Oct. 7, 2023 attack's aftermath a central issue in determining his political fate. Netanyahu remains the only senior security official in power since the attack that killed 1,200 and took 251 hostages, with critics demanding an inquiry commission into government failures. The election also hinges on ultra-Orthodox conscription, judicial reform, and coalition-building, as neither bloc is projected to secure a 61-seat Knesset majority. Exit polls are expected Tuesday evening, with preliminary results Wednesday and official results by Nov. 4. Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot may have a better chance of forming a government, though parties could remain divided on key issues, potentially triggering another election round.