Israelis Vote in First Election Since 7 October 2023 Attacks as Netanyahu Faces Eisenkot Challenge

Israelis began voting on Tuesday in the first parliamentary elections since the attacks of 7 October 2023. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to hold on to power against a strong challenge from opposition rival Gadi Eisenkot.

Polling stations opened at 7am local time (5am GMT) and are scheduled to close at 10pm (8pm GMT). In total, 36 electoral lists are competing for the 120 seats in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, with the aim of forming the country's 38th government.

Netanyahu's coalition of right-wing, far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties took office in December 2022. It became the first Israeli government since 1988 to serve a full four-year term. Polls now suggest his bloc may not reach the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority, with projections placing it at around 50.

Eisenkot, a former military chief who leads the Yashar party, has emerged as a leading challenger. He is trying to unseat Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, who has spent more than 19 years in office over three terms. Netanyahu first served from 1996 to 1999, returned in 2009 and stayed until 2021, then began his current term in December 2022.

Polls put Eisenkot's party ahead of Netanyahu's Likud. However, neither the opposition nor the incumbent's bloc is projected to win a majority on its own.

Palestinian-led parties are projected to take a combined 14 to 16 seats, which could give them leverage when it comes to forming a government. Both main camps have ruled out including them in a governing coalition.

Turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel could prove significant. According to the Arab48 news outlet, Palestinian-majority towns reported high early turnout on Tuesday. Palestinian citizens make up around 18 percent of eligible voters, or approximately 1.17 million people.

Pollsters suggest that turnout of 60 to 70 percent, compared with 53 percent in 2022, could help Ra'am and the Joint List secure the combined 14 to 16 seats.

Israeli television channels are due to broadcast exit polls once voting ends, and unofficial results are expected overnight. The full count is expected by 30 October, with official results due on 4 November.