Israel records strongest early election turnout in decades as Netanyahu faces wartime reckoning
By Shahnoor Saqib — SCN NEWS
JERUSALEM — Israelis voted at their fastest early-election pace in decades on Tuesday as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced a closely contested parliamentary election shaped by the security failures of October 7, 2023, the devastating war in Gaza and a series of regional conflicts that have transformed Israel's domestic politics and international standing.
The Central Elections Committee reported that 16.7% of eligible voters had cast their ballots within the first three hours of voting, the strongest early participation rate since 1981. By midday, turnout had exceeded 31%, the highest level recorded at that stage of an election since 1977, according to official figures. The surge indicated unusually strong voter engagement but offered no reliable indication of which political bloc would ultimately secure enough parliamentary seats to form a government.
The election is Israel's first since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of 251 hostages. Israel's subsequent military campaign devastated much of the Gaza Strip, where Palestinian health authorities say more than 74,000 people have been killed. The conflict, followed by military confrontations involving Lebanon and Iran, has intensified arguments over Netanyahu's leadership, Israel's security strategy and the political direction of the country.
Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, is seeking to preserve his position after nearly two decades in power. His principal challenger, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, has assembled support from parties across the political centre and parts of the right, presenting himself as an alternative to the coalition of nationalist, far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties that has governed under Netanyahu. Opinion polls before voting suggested a close contest, with neither political camp assured of a parliamentary majority.
The unusually high participation reflected the significance voters attached to an election taking place after three years of war and political turmoil. For Netanyahu's supporters, the prime minister's record of confronting Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas remains central to his argument for continued leadership. His opponents have focused on the government's failure to prevent the October 7 attacks, its management of the subsequent conflicts and the need for an independent investigation into the decisions made before and after the security breakdown.
Eisenkot, who served in Netanyahu's emergency war cabinet after the Hamas attacks before resigning in June 2024, has accused the prime minister of failing to translate military operations into a sustainable political and security strategy. During an election-day visit to Kibbutz Nir Oz, one of the communities attacked in October 2023, Eisenkot reiterated his call for political change and accountability. He has argued that Israel's campaign in Gaza failed to eliminate Hamas as a governing force and has pledged to dismantle the group's military and administrative capabilities if he forms a government.
Netanyahu has defended his government's military decisions and presented himself as the leader best equipped to respond to threats from Israel's regional adversaries. His campaign has highlighted military operations against Iranian-backed organisations, the country's confrontation with Iran and his close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump. The American president has endorsed Netanyahu, adding an international dimension to an election already closely watched by governments across the Middle East and beyond.
The competing arguments have exposed divisions over what constitutes security after years of military escalation. Netanyahu's supporters point to Israeli operations against Hezbollah and Iran as evidence of his determination to confront threats, while critics argue that military achievements have not produced lasting stability or restored confidence in the government's ability to protect civilians. The debate has also extended to Israel's international isolation, relations with Western allies and the humanitarian consequences of the Gaza war.
The election takes place under Israel's proportional representation system, in which voters choose political parties rather than directly electing a prime minister. The 120-member Knesset requires a governing coalition to command at least 61 seats, making the distribution of votes among smaller parties potentially decisive. Even if Netanyahu's Likud emerges as the largest individual party, he would still need sufficient support from coalition partners to remain in office.
Eisenkot faces a comparable challenge. His ability to replace Netanyahu depends not only on support for his own party but also on whether opposition parties can agree on a governing arrangement. The opposition includes politicians with substantial differences over economic policy, religion, national security and relations with Palestinians, complicating the formation of a unified coalition.
Participation among Israel's Arab citizens could become particularly important in determining the balance of parliamentary seats. Arab voters, who constitute roughly one-fifth of the country's population, have historically participated at lower rates than Jewish voters. Palestinian Israeli politician Ahmed Tibi said participation in Arab communities was unusually high, although comprehensive official turnout figures for those communities were not yet available.
Arab political parties have criticised Netanyahu's government over policing, public investment, discrimination and its policies towards Palestinians. Some opposition politicians believe strong participation by Arab voters could weaken the prime minister's prospects of forming another government. However, Eisenkot has ruled out a formal coalition partnership with Arab parties, illustrating the political constraints that could remain even if Netanyahu's bloc loses seats.
The election has also revived disagreements over the role of far-right parties in government. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich have been among Netanyahu's most controversial coalition partners, particularly because of their positions on the occupied West Bank and the Palestinian territories. Both have faced international criticism, while sanctions imposed by some Western governments against far-right Israeli figures have contributed to tensions between Israel and its allies.
Violence involving Israeli settlers and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank has become another point of contention. Eisenkot has criticised attacks by settlers and questioned the conduct of Netanyahu's far-right partners, although he shares several security positions with the prime minister. Both leading political camps oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state under the two-state framework that has underpinned decades of international peace diplomacy.
Domestic issues have also shaped the campaign. Disagreements over exemptions from compulsory military service for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men have intensified as Israel's armed forces face the demands of prolonged military operations. Netanyahu's dependence on religious parties has complicated efforts to change the system, while opponents argue that military obligations should be distributed more evenly across Israeli society.
The prime minister's earlier efforts to overhaul the judiciary remain another source of division. Critics accused his government of attempting to weaken judicial independence and reduce institutional checks on executive power, while supporters argued that the changes were necessary to address what they regarded as excessive judicial influence. Those disagreements, which prompted widespread demonstrations before October 2023, have continued to influence public attitudes towards Netanyahu's leadership.
Voting began at 7 a.m. local time and is scheduled to continue until 10 p.m., when polling stations close and television networks are expected to publish exit polls. More than seven million Israelis are eligible to vote, with ballots cast at approximately 12,000 polling stations. Election authorities have said official results will follow the counting process, meaning the final parliamentary balance may not be established immediately.
The Central Elections Committee's early figures demonstrate the intensity of voter participation but do not establish an overall turnout record for the completed election. Comparisons with previous elections also require caution because the figures describe participation at specific times of day rather than the final proportion of eligible voters who cast ballots.
Questions about election integrity emerged during voting, with Netanyahu highlighting reports of suspected bribery attempts and urging his supporters to participate. Police reported arrests linked to a suspected voting-bribery incident, while election officials said the overall number of reported irregularities was lower than in previous elections during the early voting period. Allegations made by political parties had not established widespread electoral misconduct.
The result could remain uncertain even after the votes are counted. If neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot can assemble a coalition with sufficient parliamentary support, President Isaac Herzog would consult political parties before assigning a candidate the task of forming a government. Negotiations could continue for weeks, and a failure to establish a viable coalition could eventually lead to another election.
The stakes extend beyond Israel's domestic political system. Governments across the Middle East, Europe and the United States are watching whether the election produces continuity under Netanyahu or a change in leadership after years of regional conflict. The outcome could influence Israel's relations with Washington, its military posture towards Iran and Lebanon, and the future of arrangements governing Gaza.
For now, the clearest result is the unusually rapid pace at which Israelis have entered polling stations. Whether that participation ultimately strengthens Netanyahu's position or helps his opponents remove him from office will depend on the distribution of votes and the coalition negotiations that follow.
With polling continuing into Tuesday evening, the election remains unresolved, leaving Israelis to determine whether Netanyahu's wartime record warrants another term or whether the country should enter a new period of political leadership.