Israelis vote in first election since October 7 attacks as Netanyahu faces tight race

Israelis began voting on Tuesday in the country's first general election since the October 7, 2023 attacks, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing a significant challenge to his political survival. Polling is underway nationwide following a three-year period of regional conflict sparked by the initial Hamas-led assault.

Netanyahu is locked in a neck-and-neck race against centrist opponent Gadi Eisenkot, with early indications showing no clear victor. This tightly contested vote has positioned Israeli Arab parties as potential kingmakers. While the prime minister has refused to form an alliance with these factions, the opposition bloc led by Eisenkot is expected to hold talks with one or both of the Arab parties to boost its parliamentary numbers.

A final tally of the ballots is due within 48 hours, though an official result is unlikely to emerge before Thursday. Completing the count will only be the first step in determining the country's leadership, as the subsequent process of forming a coalition government could take days or weeks to conclude.