Symbolic imageIsraelis vote in election too close to call
Israelis vote on Tuesday in the first election since the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023. Polls show neither Netanyahu's bloc nor Eisenkot's opposition near 61 seats.
Final polls give Gadi Eisenkot's new Yashar party and allied opposition parties 52 to 54 seats, and Netanyahu's Likud with its right-wing and ultra-Orthodox partners 48 to 51, FAZ reports. Donald Trump renewed his endorsement on Sunday evening on Truth Social: "Vote for Bibi Netanyahu for Prime Minister; we have to finish the job that we started!" Eisenkot has ruled out a broad centre-right coalition with Netanyahu, so long coalition talks are likely after official results on 4 November.
Iran dispute in the final days
N12 reported on Sunday that Netanyahu and army chief Eyal Zamir clashed over an operation that could trigger a confrontation with Iran. Avigdor Liberman of Yisrael Beytenu asked the attorney general on Monday to investigate Netanyahu for treason. Defence Minister Israel Katz called all such reports false and said Israel had no intention of attacking Iran before the vote.
Fight over turnout
The US group Aid Coalition estimates at least 67,000 Israelis flew home to vote, the FT reports. The Central Election Committee dismissed a Likud lawsuit against the scheme. Likud sources say nonprofits are funding opposition turnout but gave no documentation.
Police on high alert
About 22,000 officers will be deployed, up from about 17,000 at the previous election. A senior police official expects the greatest tension after exit polls are published at 10:00 p.m.