Israelis vote in split election as Netanyahu and Eisenkot battle for 61 seats

Israeli voters cast ballots Tuesday for a general election that determines the next prime minister. The outcome will define the direction of Israel's security policy and domestic politics. Polling data released on Friday indicates a tight race between incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.

Neither candidate’s political bloc is projected to secure the 61 seats required to form a majority government. This deficit means the victor must negotiate with smaller parties to build a coalition. The process could take weeks or months.

The campaign centered on security following the October 7 attacks by Hamas, which killed nearly 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages. The opposition bloc demanded an independent commission of inquiry, a move Netanyahu resisted as potentially biased. Netanyahu positioned himself as the security authority, citing strategic victories and his relationship with US President Donald Trump.

Eisenkot leads the Yashar Party, the main figure in a change bloc aimed at removing Netanyahu from power. The bloc includes former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, right-wing leader Avigdor Lieberman, and left-leaning former general Yair Golan. Netanyahu relies on an alliance with far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties, the most right-wing coalition in the country's history.

Two Arab party blocs are also running. Approximately one-fifth of the population is Arab, yet all but one leading Jewish party has ruled out governing with them. The opposition also criticized Netanyahu's judicial reform plans and his ongoing corruption trial, which he denies.

Recent reports suggested Netanyahu sought military action against Iran before the vote, a move opposed by military chief Eyal Zamir. Netanyahu denied the reports, as he did reports that he urged Trump to approve new strikes on Iran. Eisenkot called Netanyahu hysterical after the prime minister posted an AI-generated image of a nuclear bomb hitting Tel Aviv.

Conscription remains a divisive issue. The government has failed to enforce a Supreme Court ruling requiring the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men in full-time religious study. Eisenkot supports settlements in the West Bank but wants to crack down on extremist settlers. He aims to end Hamas rule in Gaza within 18 months.

Exit polls are scheduled for release at 22:00 Tuesday. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers and reservists are voting, with many ballots not counted until Wednesday. This delay could benefit right-wing parties that hold strong support among that demographic. If no bloc reaches a majority, Israel faces potential deadlock and new elections.