Israel heads to polls with Netanyahu and Eisenkot in tight race

Israel is holding national elections on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026.

The vote will not directly decide the prime minister.

Voters will select representatives for the 120-seat Knesset.

Party leaders must then assemble a coalition of at least 61 lawmakers to govern.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking another term.

He has led the most right-wing government in Israeli history for more than three years.

His coalition includes Itamar Ben-Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, and two ultra-Orthodox parties.

Netanyahu is campaigning on military achievements and his relationship with President Trump.

He has made confronting Iran a central part of his platform.

Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot is Netanyahu’s main challenger.

Eisenkot leads a new center-right party called Yashar.

His son, Gal, an Israeli soldier, was killed in Gaza during the war that began in late 2023 and early 2024 relative to the current cycle, specifically following the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks that started the conflict years ago as referenced in the source timeline context of 'last few years of war' leading to 2026 elections. Actually, source says 'last few years of war' and Oct 7 2023. So war started 2023. Election is 2026. That is three years. Eisenkot's son was killed during this war. Eisenkot has pledged not to join a government led by Netanyahu. Recent polls show Eisenkot has the strongest chance of replacing Netanyahu, but no bloc is assured of a majority. Two predominantly Arab parties are running, including the United Arab List, or Ra'am. Ra'am joined a governing coalition in 2021. It says it is willing to work with Jewish parties on crime, housing, and infrastructure. Arab citizens make up about 20 percent of the population. Most Jewish parties, including Eisenkot’s, are reluctant to rely on Arab partners. This reluctance could leave the anti-Netanyahu camp without the 61 seats needed for a majority. The Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack killed about 1,200 people and 251 were taken hostage. Netanyahu has resisted a state commission of inquiry into the failures before that attack. Eisenkot and other opposition leaders say they would establish such a commission soon after taking office. The military says it needs additional personnel after nearly three years of fighting. This has intensified a dispute over exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men. Netanyahu has resisted enlisting them, while Eisenkot campaigns to expand service. Netanyahu’s government previously pursued a judicial overhaul to weaken the supreme court. That plan triggered large protests. Netanyahu’s far-right partners want to limit court power further. Eisenkot advocates for an independent judiciary. Netanyahu remains on trial for corruption and says the charges are politically motivated. International relations have strained due to wars in Gaza and the region. Public support for Israel in the U.S. has dropped. Netanyahu argues military strength has improved Israel’s position. Eisenkot and allies say isolation threatens the economy and security. A party does not need to finish first to lead a government. What matters is forming a majority coalition. Polls suggest neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot has a clear path to 61 seats. Eisenkot’s allies could form a minority government with outside support from Arab parties. Netanyahu and Eisenkot could form a unity government, though Eisenkot has ruled out serving under Netanyahu. Netanyahu could agree to a plea deal to dismiss his charges in exchange for serving as a senior minister under Eisenkot. A deadlock could leave Netanyahu as caretaker prime minister and lead to a repeat election next year. Even if Eisenkot cannot form a coalition immediately, a parliamentary majority opposed to Netanyahu could elect a new Knesset speaker and advance legislation on military service. Netanyahu’s Likud party billboards are promoting a scenario where the election was stolen, a move that could lead to chaos after the vote. Neither leader supports establishing a Palestinian state in the foreseeable future. Their differences concern democratic institutions, the West Bank, and international relations. Netanyahu governs with parties that support settlement expansion and a weaker supreme court. His partners have pushed for annexation of the West Bank, drawing sanctions from the U.K. and Europe. Eisenkot presents himself as a pragmatic alternative. He has taken a tougher position against violence by Israeli settlers. He says he would act against illegal settlement outposts. Eisenkot has opposed construction in E1, an area just east of Jerusalem. Critics say construction there would divide the West Bank. The election is a contest over Netanyahu’s leadership, accountability for Oct. 7, and the role of religion in the state.