Gadi Eisenkot, the ex-army chief who lost a son in Gaza, leads polls against Netanyahu before Israel's election on Tuesday
Benjamin Netanyahu faces a deadlocked election on 27 October, with Arab parties holding enough seats to hand the opposition a majority if it joins forces with them.
Tens of thousands of Israelis are flying home to cast votes against Benjamin Netanyahu, 77, the country's longest-serving prime minister, who faces corruption charges at trial. Eisenkot's Yashar party leads Likud in the polls, but neither bloc appears within reach of a majority. Two small Arab parties, Ra'am and the Joint List, may ultimately determine who forms the next government. Eisenkot has branded Netanyahu an 'anti-leader'.
Eisenkot, 66, came to politics just four years ago, having previously served as commander of the Israel Defense Forces.
Polls show Netanyahu is still widely blamed for the October 7 security failures.
Two of Eisenkot's nephews were also killed fighting in Gaza.
