Israelis vote in the first election since October 7 as Netanyahu fights for survival against ex-army chief Gadi Eisenkot
From the Newshound archive · first published 25 October 2026 · last updated 27 October 2026.
A polling station in Israel, where Benjamin Netanyahu is running slightly behind rival Gadi Eisenkot while facing corruption charges as the country votes for the first time since the October 7 massacre.Isaac Herzog pictured with a woman, as Benjamin Netanyahu faces corruption charges while running slightly behind rival Gadi Eisenkot ahead of Israel's first election since the October 7 massacre.
More than 7.3 million Israelis are casting ballots today in a knife-edge race that opinion polls suggest neither bloc can win outright, meaning weeks or months of coalition negotiations are likely to follow. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister at 77, has framed himself as 'Mr Security' and claimed Trump would act to remove Iran's threat only if he remains in power. Former IDF chief Eisenkot, whose son Gal was killed fighting in Gaza in December 2023, leads the centrist Yashar Party and accuses Netanyahu of running 'a campaign of fear-mongering, lies and threats.'
Arab parties, projected to win ten to fifteen seats, could become kingmakers by blocking Netanyahu from forming a majority coalition.
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett has emerged as a wild-card contender, pitching himself as the leader to revive the Abraham Accords and rebuild ties with Washington.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's party is projected to win seven to ten seats, potentially making any Netanyahu government dependent on his support.
