No Clear Winner in Israeli Election, Netanyahu and Eisenkot Short of Majorities

• Israel election yields no clear winner; Netanyahu, Eisenkot miss majority.
• Candidates split on Iran war, settler violence; agree on security.
• Campaign focused on war, security post-Oct. 7, 2023 attacks.

Voters in Israel are participating in a parliamentary election Tuesday, a contest widely regarded as significant for the country’s direction. The race is reportedly tight between incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main challenger, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. Campaign discussions have predominantly focused on national security, the impact of three years of war, and the ongoing conflict since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, with economic concerns less prominent. To cast their ballots, an estimated 80,000 Israelis living abroad are returning, as the country generally does not permit overseas voting for its citizens. This election, the first since the Oct. 7, 2023, events, will determine the composition of the Knesset’s 120 seats.