Netanyahu's Disenchanted Supporters Could Decide Israel's Election

Israel's election campaign is intensifying as disenchanted former supporters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party in Dimona campaign for rival Gadi Eisenkot, with Tuesday's vote being the first since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Polls predict Netanyahu's coalition losing its majority, though Eisenkot lacks a clear path to power. Dimona, a Likud stronghold where an Iranian missile wounded dozens in March, has become a battleground. Only 55% of 2022 Likud voters plan to vote for the party again, with 15% backing anti-Netanyahu parties and 14% choosing alternative right-wing parties. Eisenkot's Mizrahi heritage and security credentials appeal to Likud's traditional electorate. Netanyahu retains a loyal core, with supporters like Ruti Ohana dismissing blame for October 7 as unfair. However, some voters, including software engineer David Iskali, cite his age of 77 as a reason for change, while 13% of Israeli voters remain undecided.