Jerusalem, Oct 27: Israelis began voting in a closely contested parliamentary election on Tuesday, with about 7.3 million eligible voters choosing members of the 26th Knesset amid uncertainty over whether either Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc or opposition parties can secure a governing majority.
Final opinion polls released before polling day projected a tight contest between Netanyahu’s camp and opposition factions led by former Israel Defence Forces chief Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party. Both sides could fall short of a majority if they maintain campaign pledges to rule out cooperation with certain rival factions, raising the prospect of a political deadlock, The Times of Israel reported.
President Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal Herzog, were among those who voted early. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also cast his ballot.
Election officials were expected to release exit polls shortly after voting closed at 10 p.m. local time. The official outcome was likely to take several days to finalise as authorities completed the count.
The uncertainty surrounding the result has heightened the stakes for voters. One Israeli speaking to IANS urged all eligible citizens aged 18 and above to participate, describing voting as an opportunity to express their preferences. Another resident called the election the most important in Israel’s history.
Former IDF Major Ariel Averbuch warned that a near tie could leave political parties unable to form a government and force the country into another election. Although he expected the right wing, probably under Netanyahu’s leadership, to win, he said the possibility of a deadlock remained a concern.
Averbuch also defended Netanyahu’s handling of Israel’s security challenges following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, the deadliest such assault on the country since the Holocaust, according to his remarks to IANS. He cited Israel’s operations involving Hezbollah, Hamas, Iran and the Houthis, including the pager attack targeting Hezbollah, and said Hamas had been deterred and Israel controlled more than 70 per cent of the Gaza Strip.
The election is the first since the October 7 attack, which reshaped Israel’s political landscape and voter priorities. The contest comes after the 2022 elections, with the latest polling indicating that forming a stable government may prove difficult if rival blocs remain unwilling to work with certain parties.
