Israel's existential election: A nation divided over its future

Israel is holding its first election since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, with voters set to judge Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on a record of making the country wealthy but overseeing a catastrophic security failure that has left it in a state of perpetual conflict. The election pits Netanyahu's populist vision of security and coalition with religious allies against an opposition bloc led by former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, who emphasizes moderation, rule of law, and accountability. The campaign has been dominated by existential questions about Israel's identity rather than economic concerns, with deep divisions over issues including the war in Gaza, military conscription for ultra-Orthodox Jews, and settler violence in the West Bank. Israel has lost support from its closest ally, the United States, amid the ongoing conflicts, and faces long-term demographic challenges as the ultra-Orthodox population grows. The country remains deeply polarized, with many citizens expressing exhaustion from war and uncertainty about the future, though the outcome of Tuesday's vote remains highly uncertain.