Israel votes October 27 as Netanyahu faces Eisenkot and coalition uncertainty

Israel votes on October 27 in its first national election since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent wars in Gaza, Iran and Lebanon, according to The Independent. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's response to that period is at the centre of the contest.

National security has dominated the campaign, the Guardian reported. Bloomberg Economics described a race consumed by Iran, security and the impact of three years of war, with Netanyahu and his main challenger, Gadi Eisenkot, rarely moving beyond those subjects.

Eisenkot, a former Israel Defense Forces chief, has emerged as one of Netanyahu's principal challengers, according to Times now. His political positioning is described differently across the coverage: Le Monde calls him centrist, while NPR describes him as center-right.

On October 24, thousands marched in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu's government, demanding accountability for the failure to prevent the Hamas-led attack, AFP reported. Opposition figures joined protesters calling for an independent October 7 inquiry, according to Al Jazeera.

The protest came as the final polling picture suggested no straightforward route to government. CNA reported on October 24 that the latest polls, published before a Friday-night publication ban, showed neither bloc securing a parliamentary majority.

On October 25, Axios reported that Netanyahu had pressed President Trump in recent days for more public support for his campaign. Trump had already endorsed him, but Axios separately reported that some Trump advisers saw opportunities for the president's Middle East agenda under a different Israeli government.

Trump publicly reiterated his endorsement on October 25, calling on Israelis to vote for Netanyahu, according to Middle East Eye. By October 26, the Times of Israel reported that Trump had doubled down on his support following Netanyahu's reported request.

Security remained prominent in the closing campaign. Middle East Eye reported on October 26 that Netanyahu had released a video warning Iran and its proxies against disrupting the election. Meanwhile, Eisenkot pledged to unite the country at his final major rally before the vote, according to Mint.

The last published polls leave the election without a clear majority for either bloc, according to CNA. That makes the contest about both Netanyahu's survival and the ability of competing parties to assemble a government.

Netanyahu also retains a substantial base. The New York Times reported on October 26 that his core support remained strong, while the Financial Times found many voters in Sderot, a city hit by the October 7 attack, still firmly behind him.

Security is not the only issue awaiting the next government. Al Jazeera identified judicial reform and conscription among the campaign's key questions. Bloomberg Economics also reported that the war-focused campaign was masking an underlying economic divide.

The immediate test is the October 27 vote and whether its results give either bloc a route to a parliamentary majority. Election day may not settle who governs: The New York Times reported that forming a new government can take weeks, months or longer.

A change of prime minister would also leave major policy questions open. Le Monde reported that Eisenkot opposes the E1 settlement project, which would cut the largest Palestinian territory in two. The scope of any broader change toward Palestinians remains a central question, rather than an assured consequence of Netanyahu losing office.