Years of conflict splits voters in former Netanyahu stronghold

As lunchtime trade wanders through the door and with the smell of barbecued meat hanging in the air, kebab shop founder Amnon Oved smiles as he offers a rather blunt assessment of the state of Israel's leadership.

The popular businessman is a resident of Kiryat Shmona and, like many other Israelis, is preparing to vote in an election that will have a profound impact on the country after years of conflict and social upheaval.

In his mind, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also known as Bibi, has reached his "best before" date.

"Bibi needs to go to America and sit there with [US President Donald] Trump, to smoke grass together and have a good life," he quips.

"Or he will sit here in prison, one of the two.

"Trump said to him, 'You're a liar.'

"That [was something] we knew before he said it!"

The October 27 election has essentially become a referendum on Mr Netanyahu's leadership and legacy.

That includes his management of the multiple wars Israel is involved in, through to the personal corruption charges still hanging over him.

Current polling shows the longest-serving prime minister in Israel's history and his party, Likud, are facing a stiff challenge to hold on to power, with "change" candidates vying to topple him.

Perhaps aware of the growing challenge against his ally, Mr Trump delivered a glowing endorsement of Mr Netanyahu as a "great warrior" ahead of the election.

Most data suggests Likud will be the second largest party in the next Knesset, behind one of Mr Netanyahu's main rivals, Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar.

But both men will still need to form coalitions post-election.

Israel heads to the polls after turmoil

Mr Oved's business is one of a handful that have consistently remained open in Kiryat Shmona, in far north Israel's Galilee region.

The city has been a Likud stronghold for decades and sits at the foot of the Ramim Ridge, where the border between Israel and Lebanon runs.

It was one of the Israeli cities targeted by Hezbollah's rocket and drone strikes after the Hamas-led October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel triggered the war in Gaza.

Israeli forces fired back over the border in response until an uneasy and, as some analysts described it, flawed ceasefire was struck in late 2024.

A fragile peace hung over the area until Hezbollah again opened fire earlier this year.

This time, the group acted in support of its backers in Tehran, days after the US and Israel launched a war on Iran.

The city came under attack once more, as Israeli forces pummelled Lebanese villages just a short distance away and launched a ground invasion.

"There have been wars since the world was created, and the wars will continue," Mr Oved said.

"It doesn't matter which leaders will be in power, good or bad. They are all crap in the end. They care about themselves."

At the November 2022 election, just over 49 per cent of the vote in Kiryat Shmona went to the Netanyahu-led party.

The joint ticket led by far-right ultranationalist politicians Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich ranked second, with just under 14 per cent of the vote.

The two men would go on to become key members of the coalition government, which was later formed. They are running separately at this election.

Mr Ben-Gvir has been sanctioned by governments around the world, including Australia. But he and his Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party is making the pitch that a strong Ben-Gvir means a strong Israel.

That message was on clear display at a public bomb shelter on the main road of Kiryat Shmona, which was covered in posters for his party.

In the background of the image are handcuffed Palestinian prisoners, highlighting his role as national security minister and his demands to become defence minister in a future government.

'People are hard to move'

Only about half of Kiryat Shmona's 25,000 residents have returned since fighting in southern Lebanon calmed.

The city's former deputy mayor Shimon Kamari believed many locals would still vote for Likud out of blind loyalty, even though he believed it had "abandoned" the city.

"Those who remained in the city are traditional people, religious people, people who the support for Likud flows in their blood, and it seems to me that it's very difficult to get it out of them," he said.

Mr Kamari was born in the city to a family of Iranian Jews, and stayed in Kiryat Shmona during the war to continue running his food distribution business.

He said his political views had shifted over the years, and he had become more right wing in recent times.

For example, he was now of the view that things like a two state solution could not and should not happen.

"If the government does not change … God forbid, it is a death sentence for Kiryat Shmona," he said.

Mr Kamari said he would be backing Gadi Eisenkot at the ballot box.

"This culture that took root in the State of Israel, the culture of lies, we have to change it," he said.

"And I believe that the four parties of change, headed by Eisenkot, will be able to bring us back on track."

Some Israelis remain loyal to PM

Simmering anger against Mr Netanyahu in the city is countered by vocal support for the prime minister, who has argued he is the only person able to keep Israel and Israelis safe from the enemies who surround it.

Herzl Ben Asher, another former deputy mayor and current editor of the Gaillee News, said some voters were misguided if they thought Mr Netanyahu's lengthy time in office was a reason to replace him.

"Can you tell someone who has lived with his wife for 20 years, that 20 years is enough, and to replace her with someone else? No," he argued.

"He needs to maintain his achievements, and that's not easy.

"Getting to the summit is easier than staying at the summit — everyone knows that. He needs to complete his work."

Mr Ben Asher described Mr Netanyahu's achievements as "incomprehensible" in scale and significance, and pointed to the recent war with Iran, which is still not resolved, as evidence of how influential and powerful he can be.

Another resident, Yoav Sabbag, lamented how empty Kiryat Shmona was but said Mr Netanyahu was the only person who could breathe life back into the city.

"We have to decide to take just Benjamin Netanyahu, because … maybe it is not [like he is] the 'Superman', but he [makes] me feel security in my country and in this area, five minutes from Lebanon."