Netanyahu Faces Political Survival Test in Crucial Israeli Elections

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is engaged in a battle for political survival as parliamentary elections commenced on Tuesday. Voters are evaluating his leadership in the aftermath of the 2023 Hamas attacks, the Gaza war, the conflict with Iran, and Israel's increasing international isolation. Despite these challenges, Netanyahu, who has served a total of 19 years as Israel's longest-serving leader, remains a formidable political force.

Opinion polls indicate a close race between Netanyahu's Likud party and its right-wing allies, and a rival bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot, a former chief of staff known for his hardline security stance, which draws support from both the right and center. Voting began at 7 a.m. and will conclude at 10 p.m.

Netanyahu's campaign has emphasized his leadership during the war and his alliance with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has endorsed the prime minister and joined Israel in confronting Iran. Netanyahu stated on Sunday that Trump is prepared to act decisively to "permanently" eliminate the Iranian threat, contingent on Netanyahu remaining in power. Eisenkot accused Netanyahu of relying on "a campaign of fear, lies, and threats," expressing confidence that Trump would cooperate fully with any leader chosen by the people.

Netanyahu may again depend on far-right leaders Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich to form a government. Both have faced Western sanctions for inciting violence against Palestinians, while Ben-Gvir's Jewish Power party has shown gains in polls. These elections occur after one of Israel's most turbulent periods since its 1948 founding, marked by the shock of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, the subsequent Israeli military operation in Gaza, and sharp domestic divisions over Netanyahu's right-wing government policies. For many of Netanyahu's opponents, the election centers on accountability for the security failures of October 7, the deadliest day in Israel's history.