Israel votes with Netanyahu’s future on the line

Posters of former Israeli Chief of General Staff and Yashar Party leader Gadi Eisenkot (right) and Prime Minister and Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu (left) are seen as election campaigns intensify two days before the vote as campaign posters of candidates are displayed on billboards and buildings across the streets ahead of the Knesset elections scheduled for October 27, in Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 25, 2026. [Nir Keidar – Anadolu Agency]

Voting began Tuesday in Israel’s parliamentary elections, with more than 7.3 million people eligible to cast ballots to elect the 120-member Knesset, Anadolu reports.

Polling stations opened at 7 am local time (0500GMT) and are scheduled to close at 10 pm (2000GMT), according to Israel’s Central Elections Committee.

A total of 12,018 polling stations and approximately 18,000 ballot boxes have been prepared nationwide, with around 100,000 election workers deployed.

Thirty-seven parties and electoral lists are competing in the elections, with at least 61 seats required to form a governing coalition.

The main contenders include Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, former Army Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party and the Together alliance led by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

READ: Israel votes Tuesday in closely contested election as Netanyahu faces challenge from Eisenkot

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