Israel votes in tight Netanyahu–Eisenkot election as turnout hits decades-high
Israelis are voting in the first national election since the 7 October 2023 attacks. By 2 p.m. turnout was 44.9%, the highest at that hour since 1973, with Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud neck and neck with former army chief Gadi Eisenkot.
Israelis went to the polls on Tuesday in the country’s first nationwide election since the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023, a vote widely seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after three years of war.
The race
Netanyahu’s Likud has been running neck and neck with Gadi Eisenkot, the former military chief of staff who leads the Yashar party, according to NBC News and AP. Eisenkot argues it is time for change and has called for an independent inquiry into the failures around 7 October; Netanyahu has stressed security and his close ties with US President Donald Trump, who has endorsed him. NBC reported that final polls by three main broadcasters gave Eisenkot’s presumed coalition a lead of about two to six seats.
Turnout
Israel’s Central Elections Committee reported turnout of 31.5% by noon (versus 28.4% at the same point in 2022) and 44.9% by 2 p.m. — the highest at that hour since 1973. Polls close at 10 p.m. local time (1 p.m. PT); voters already in line may still vote.
What comes next
No party has ever won a majority on its own in the 120-seat Knesset; a government needs 61 seats. AP notes it could take weeks of coalition talks before it is clear who will govern.
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