Netanyahu fights for political survival in Israel's first post-Oct. 7 election

Benjamin Netanyahu is campaigning for re-election in Israel's first vote since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks, despite presiding over the country's worst security failure, and analysts say he may still win. Polls show neither Netanyahu's bloc nor his opponents will secure the 61 seats needed for a majority, potentially leading to prolonged coalition talks or a fragile minority government. His far-right allies and core supporters remain loyal, with about 30 percent of voters seen as unshakable. Netanyahu faces corruption charges and criticism over ignored warnings, while challenger Gadi Eisenkot pledges an Oct. 7 inquiry and ultra-Orthodox conscription. The war's Palestinian death toll has not dominated the campaign, but settler violence and international isolation have.