Israel votes October 27: Netanyahu vs. Eisenkot, and the polls
Israel holds a Knesset election in the middle of the Iran war. Final polls show Gadi Eisenkot's party in first place, but neither bloc near the 61 seats needed to govern.
The basics
Israelis vote on October 27 for all 120 seats in the Knesset. Seats are shared out by national vote, and a party needs 3.25% of valid votes to win any seats. A government needs the support of 61 members. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud is running against a field led by former military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot's party, Yashar, and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's B'Yachad.
Final polls (Kan 11 / Channel 12 / Channel 13)
• Yashar (Eisenkot): 22 / 23 / 22 seats
• Likud (Netanyahu): 20 / 21 / 19
• B'Yachad (Bennett): 14 / 15 / 14
• The Democrats (Yair Golan): 8 / 10 / 10
• Opposition bloc total: 52 / 56 / 54. Netanyahu's bloc: 50 in all three. Arab parties: 14 / 14 / 16.
Neither bloc reaches 61 without the Arab parties, which neither side counts. Several small parties are polling just under the threshold, and votes for parties that miss it don't count toward seats, which could tip the balance.
Why it matters to Americans
The election comes during the war with Iran, which Israel and the U.S. began together in February. Netanyahu has called for overthrowing Iran's government, and Israel's planned strikes were reportedly shelved after President Trump opposed renewed fighting before the U.S. midterms. Who leads Israel's next government will shape whether that campaign resumes and how talks over Hormuz unfold.
What each side argues
Netanyahu's supporters say his experience and close ties with Trump are needed in wartime, and that the pressure on Iran is working. His opponents, including several former generals, argue he bears responsibility for security failures, has divided the country and put his own legal troubles first, and that a new government could rebuild unity and relations abroad.
What to watch
Turnout, which small parties clear the threshold, and coalition talks that could take weeks. Final results are due to be confirmed in early November; if no one can form a majority, another election is possible.