Israel Election: Netanyahu Faces Removal Vote After Three Years of War

More than seven million eligible voters cast ballots in Israel on Tuesday to determine whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will remain in power after three years of continuous conflict.

The election marks the first national vote since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza and expanded regional hostilities. The outcome will decide if Netanyahu’s religious and ultranationalist bloc retains control or if a center-left coalition led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot takes power.

Polls indicate a tight race between Netanyahu and Eisenkot. In Israel's parliamentary system, no single party has ever secured an outright majority, forcing leaders to build coalitions. If neither bloc commands enough seats, weeks of negotiations may follow before a government is formed. Arab-led parties, which are campaigning for heavy turnout, could become kingmakers if they align with one side and attract other partners.

Tensions with Iran loom over the campaign. Netanyahu intensified warnings to Tehran ahead of the vote, appearing in a video beside a missile-defense battery. He stated that Israel would deliver a devastating blow if Iran attacked. In Kiryat Shmona, a Netanyahu stronghold near the Lebanese border, a voter kicked and tore down an Eisenkot poster before polls opened.

In Tel Aviv, families of those killed on October 7, 2023, and former hostages observed a moment of silence before voting. Yona Adam, whose daughter Mapal Adam was killed, urged voters to remember those whose voices are gone. Approximately 330,000 young Israelis eligible to vote for the first time are facing the decision under the shadow of compulsory military service. Tens of thousands of overseas citizens reportedly returned to Israel to cast their votes.

The vote serves as a referendum on the country's direction. Netanyahu’s supporters view him as a steady leader who has guided Israel through multiple wars and protected its Jewish identity while checking an interventionist judiciary. They see him as the right choice to maintain stability. Opponents argue he is a polarizing figure who extended the Gaza war for political gain and is weakening democratic institutions. They accuse his government of allowing ultra-Orthodox religious Jews to avoid military conscription.

Eisenkot’s supporters describe him as a capable leader with strong security credentials. They believe his proposed coalition will serve as a bulwark against illiberal trends. Eisenkot’s personal loss, with his son and two nephews killed in Gaza, resonates with voters feeling the impact of the conflict. Parties likely to support Eisenkot have pledged to improve Israel’s international standing, conscript ultra-Orthodox men, and bolster judicial independence.

Israel’s traditional allies have criticized the government’s conduct in Gaza and the West Bank, where violence by Jewish settlers has intensified. Public support in the United States has dropped, and European partners have imposed sanctions in recent months. The election offers voters a chance to chart a new course after Netanyahu’s turbulent four-year term.