Netanyahu's political survival on the line as Israel votes

Live updates

1. 2h ago

   Israel Votes in Consequential Election

   Israeli voters cast ballots on Tuesday in a high-stakes parliamentary election that serves as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Facing a tight race against a rival alliance led by former military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, Netanyahu is fighting for political survival following the 2023 Hamas-led attacks, ongoing conflicts in Gaza and with Iran, and deepening international isolation. Israelis surged to the polls at the fastest rate in 45 years, while exit polls showed the wartime election appearing deadlocked.

   Why it matters

   The election is the first national vote since the October 7, 2023 attacks and evaluates the leadership of Israel's longest-serving leader with 19 years in office. The campaign has centered on severe disagreements over security policies, management of the war against Iran, and the future of the regime. Despite international isolation and growing domestic fatigue from years of war, Netanyahu remains a formidable political survivor due to entrenched nationalist politics and a fragmented electoral system.

   What is confirmed

   • Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a fight for political survival in Israel's election on Tuesday following the 2023 Hamas-led attacks.
   • Israelis surged to the polls at the fastest rate in 45 years on Tuesday.
   • Benjamin Netanyahu is Israel's longest-serving leader with 19 years in office.
   • Netanyahu faces a close race against a rival alliance led by former military chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Israel's wartime election appeared deadlocked on Tuesday, according to exit polls.

   What to watch next

   • Official election results and final vote tallies
   • Developments regarding the formation of a governing coalition by Netanyahu or his rivals
   Sources used for this update (19)

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   3. www.cnbcafrica.com — Oil falls after Trump declares ‘energy ceasefire’ between Russia and Ukraine | CNBC Africa
   4. Time Magazine — Israel's Choice
   5. Reuters — Netanyahu's political survival on the line as Israel votes
   6. The New York Times — Opinion | Israelis Have Chosen to Be Feared, Not Loved
   7. Yahoo — Netanyahu faces first national election since Oct. 7, 2023
   8. AP News — Netanyahu’s legacy is on the line as Israelis vote in the first elections since the Oct. 7 attack
   9. kathmandupost.com — Netanyahu’s political survival on the line as Israel votes - The Kathmandu Post
   10. www.cnbcafrica.com — Netanyahu’s political survival on the line as Israel votes
   11. www.thecitizen.co.tz — Netanyahu's political survival on the line as Israel votes | The Citizen
   12. www.aol.com — Netanyahu's political survival on the line as Israel votes
   confidence 95%