2 minWorld
Netanyahu faces voters in Israel's first election since Oct. 7 attack
Israelis vote in a national election seen as among the most consequential in years, the first since the Hamas attack of Oct. 7 and the war in Gaza that followed.
Israelis go to the polls on Tuesday in an election that many observers describe as the most consequential in years. It is the first national vote since the Hamas attack of Oct. 7 and the war in Gaza that followed, and it puts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's record at the center of the campaign.
Netanyahu has built his campaign around a promise to keep Israel safe. His opponents argue that he failed to prevent the 2003 attack and say he is blocking an investigation into that failure. The dispute over accountability for security breakdowns has become one of the most sensitive questions facing voters as they decide who will lead the country next.
Reporting from the campaign trail describes a race shaped by the trauma of the past two years. The Oct. 7 attack and the military campaign in Gaza have dominated public debate, and the outcome will determine whether the current government retains power or whether the opposition can form a new coalition.
Election-eve coverage also highlighted Netanyahu's close alignment with the United States. A campaign billboard in Tel Aviv on Monday showed the prime minister alongside President Donald Trump, a visual reminder of the relationship Netanyahu has promoted as a central asset of his leadership. Officials have also said that Netanyahu pressed for an attack on Iran in the weeks before the vote, a claim that adds a regional dimension to a domestic contest.
Whatever the result, the vote is expected to shape Israel's approach to security, its war aims in Gaza and its relations with Washington for years to come. Polling stations open Tuesday, and results will determine the next phase of Israeli politics.
10
