Israelis cast ballots in fight over Netanyahu's post-Oct. 7 legacy

Voters across Israel stepped into polling stations on Tuesday to determine the future of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a decision framed by many as a verdict on his handling of the October 7, 2023, attacks and the subsequent regional wars. The election will fill all 120 seats in the Knesset, the country's parliament, where no single party has ever won the 61 seats required to govern alone.

Opinion polls indicate a tight contest with no clear victor, a result that will likely trigger weeks or months of negotiations among the dozen parties expected to secure legislative seats. The outcome hinges on whether voters prioritize accountability for the deadliest day in the nation's history or stability under a leader who has dominated Israeli politics for nearly two decades.

In the northern town of Kiryat Shmona, a known stronghold for the prime minister, emotions ran high before the polls opened. A man was seen kicking and tearing down a campaign poster featuring Gadi Eisenkot, the former military chief and Netanyahu's top rival. The scene captured the palpable tension that has defined the campaign in border communities directly affected by the conflict.

In Tel Aviv, families of those killed in the 2023 attacks and former hostages observed a moment of silence. Yona Adam, whose son Mapal Adam died in the assault, urged voters to remember the loss. "Remember all those whose voices are no more," Adam said, linking the personal grief of many citizens to the national decision being made that day.

Eisenkot campaigned in Ofakim, a southern community targeted by militants on October 7, 2023. The former commander, who lost his son and two nephews in combat in Gaza, aimed to remind voters of the security breakdown and Netanyahu's refusal to establish a state commission of inquiry. His presence in the region underscored the rival bloc's focus on holding the current leadership accountable for the failures that allowed the attack to succeed.

Thousands of volunteer observers from the civil society group Elections Guards monitored the process across the country. Eyal Sher, one such volunteer, described the government as corrupt and committed to staying in power by any means necessary. "Every vote counts and we want to make sure the procedures are kept intact," Sher said, reflecting the scrutiny placed on the administrative machinery of the vote.

A win for Netanyahu would cement his reputation as a political survivor, while a loss could end his nearly 20-year tenure as the country's most dominant figure. Although U.S. President Donald Trump endorsed Netanyahu earlier in the month, the late timing was viewed as a setback for the prime minister, who had previously touted his close relationship with the American leader as a key asset. The campaign also highlighted contentious issues such as the exemption of ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service and the 2023 judicial overhaul.

The vote follows a period of extensive military activity, including Israel's occupation of parts of southern Lebanon and Syria and two wars against Iran, actions that retain broad public support. With the international arrest warrant against Netanyahu largely absent from the debate, the focus remains on domestic divisions over the legacy of the last three years and the direction of the country's democratic institutions.