Israel going to polls; Netanyahu faces another tough challenge

Amidst the crisis in war-torn Middle East,  Israel is going to the polls on Tuesday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing the biggest challenge to his title.

Perhaps for that very reason, this time the election is also seen as most critical in the history of Israel. The high stakes in poll battle is also reflected in a flocking of reportedly 70,000 to home country from foreign countries. About half a million voters are estimated to be first-time voters.

Netanyahu, the longest serving prime minister hitherto in the country’s history, is facing the toughest challenge in his political career, but this time from the rival front-runner Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief.

Though the race is said to be neck and neck, observers do not see either of the contestants winning the required 61 seats to form a majority government. That may result in a scene familiar to Israel’s parliamentary history: long drawn out political negotiations and bargaining resulting in a coalition.

Netanyahu’s Likuk and Eisenkot’s Yashar, are the main contestants.

The domestic political picture is heavily dominated by the war with Iran, which Israel started with US collaboration, and the devastation it has caused. All the same, Netanyahu takes the blame for the situation in which the confrontation has not taken the US-Israel side to anywhere near their goal of disarming Iran and decapitating it in terms of nuclear development.

The campaign atmosphere is also overshadowed by the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 that killed nearly 1,200 Israelis and led to about 250 Israelis being taken as hostages. Most of them were eventually released under phased deals, but not before it dented the public image of Netanyahu.

In addition, Netanyahu is facing serious corruption charges, in which so far he has been shirking trial under provisions that protect him thanks to be office as prime minister.

Results of exit polls are expected to be out by around 20:00 GMT (1.30 am IST on Wednesday), but going by past experience there is no guarantee the indication s will be accurate.