Israel will hold a general election on Tuesday, 27 October, its first national vote since the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023 and the subsequent conflicts in Gaza, Iran, and with Hezbollah and the Houthis.
The election comes amid debate over national security, accountability for the October 2023 attacks, military conscription, judicial reform and the rising cost of living. Observers have described the vote as "one of the most pivotal elections in Israel's history, with global implications".
How Israel's electoral system works
Israel's parliament, the Knesset, has 120 seats. A governing bloc needs at least 61 seats to secure a majority.
The country uses proportional representation, meaning "governments have always been coalitions of multiple parties". Parties must therefore negotiate with potential partners to assemble a governing majority, a process that can take "weeks or even months".
President Isaac Herzog will invite the candidate he believes "has the best chance of forming a government" to build a coalition. If the negotiations fail, the mandate can pass to another candidate. If that attempt also fails, new elections are called.
Between 2019 and 2022, Israel held "five separate elections as parties struggled time and again to co-operate". If no bloc can secure a majority, a minority government may also take power.
Who are the main contenders?
Benjamin Netanyahu and Likud
Incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads Likud and what has been described as "the most right-wing in Israel's history". Campaigning as "Mr Security", Netanyahu is relying on far-right coalition partners, some of whom support annexing the occupied West Bank and the "migration" of Palestinians from Gaza.
Netanyahu has highlighted "strategic victories in Israel's wars since 2023" as part of his campaign, while facing criticism over the security failures that preceded the 7 October attacks.
Gadi Eisenkot and the opposition
Gadi Eisenkot, a former head of the Israel Defense Forces, is challenging Netanyahu in a "tight race with incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu". He formed the Yashar Party last year, lost his soldier son in the Gaza war and resigned from the war cabinet in 2024 over disagreements about the conduct of the conflict.
His campaign centres on "calls for accountability over the security failures that led to 7 October".
Other opposition parties
The right-wing opposition includes former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman, both of whom support "permanent Israeli control over much of the occupied West Bank".
The left-wing opposition is led by Yair Golan, who advocates Israel's "withdrawal from large parts of the territory".
Despite their differences over policy, Golan, Bennett and Lieberman could join Eisenkot in an effort to form a government.
Arab parties
Arab parties represent roughly one-fifth of Israel's population and could theoretically "prove kingmakers" if their support becomes necessary to assemble a governing majority.
However, all but one leading Jewish party have ruled out partnering with them, potentially limiting their role in coalition negotiations.
What are the main election issues?
National security and accountability
The security failures surrounding the 7 October 2023 attacks are central to the campaign. Netanyahu's challengers have criticised his government over those failures, while the prime minister has emphasised Israel's military record in subsequent conflicts.
Military conscription
The exemption from military service historically granted to ultra-Orthodox Jewish men engaged in religious study is another major point of contention. The issue has become a focus of debate over military service and the obligations of different groups within Israeli society.
Judicial reform
Netanyahu's proposed judicial changes remain controversial. Critics argue that the proposals would "compromise the independence of the judiciary and threaten democracy".
Cost of living
Rising food and housing expenses are also a major concern for voters, adding economic pressures to the security and political issues dominating the campaign.
Where do the contenders stand on Gaza and the West Bank?
Gaza
Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot support US President Donald Trump's peace plan, which calls for Hamas to disarm in exchange for a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops.
Eisenkot has pledged to "end Hamas rule in the territory within 18 months, through military means if necessary".
The West Bank
Netanyahu supports expanding Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Eisenkot also supports settlements generally but opposes the E1 project, which would "split the West Bank in two". He has called for the closure of unauthorised outposts and a crackdown on "extremist Jewish settlers".
The two-state solution
No leading Jewish party is campaigning on a two-state solution, and "many have outright rejected it". The absence of support among the leading Jewish parties places the question of Palestinian statehood outside their main campaign platforms.
When will the results be known?
Exit polls are scheduled to be released at 22:00 local time on election day.
Preliminary vote tallies are expected the following day, while the official final results are scheduled for publication on 4 November.
The distribution of the Knesset's 120 seats will determine which parties can negotiate to form a government. Given Israel's coalition-based electoral system, the final composition of the government may depend on negotiations after the votes have been counted.