Benjamin Netanyahu battles to hold on to power as polls show his coalition short of a majority before Israel votes
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.Benjamin Netanyahu's battle to retain power, as surveys suggest his rivals could secure a majority by uniting with Arab parties ahead of the 27 October vote.
Two Arab parties, the Joint List and Ra'am, could decide whether Benjamin Netanyahu's long reign ends. They are expected to take around 15 seats between them, enough to hand the opposition a majority. Both blocs are forecast to win more than 50 seats but fall short of the 61 needed. Netanyahu, who turns 77 this week, faces former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot in the vote on 27 October.
President Trump gave Netanyahu his 'complete and total endorsement', but Vice-President JD Vance declined to back him.
Opposition parties have pledged a state inquiry into the failures around the 7 October attacks.
Gaza tent-dweller Nidal Kuhail, 32, says of the vote: 'It's now become a matter of to be or not to be.'
