Israeli election tests Netanyahu's leadership after Oct. 7

Israelis vote Tuesday in the first national election since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack, widely seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership. The campaign focuses on Netanyahu’s role in the security breakdown, his moral character, and issues like military exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews, with little debate on wartime conduct in Gaza or other conflicts. Around 68% of Jewish Israelis say Oct. 7 is a central voting factor, while critics accuse Netanyahu of blocking an inquiry and failing to secure decisive victories. The election follows a 2023 judicial overhaul that sparked mass protests, though only 18% of Jewish Israelis rank it as a key issue. No major candidate advocates a return to the peace process, and the economy, a concern for 38% of Jewish voters, has been largely ignored in campaigning.