Israelis vote in election focused on Netanyahu’s leadership

Israelis are voting Tuesday in a general election focused on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, the security failures surrounding the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and domestic disputes. The outcome will determine the makeup of the 120-seat Knesset and set the stage for coalition negotiations; no result has been established yet. The vote is the first national election since the 2023 attack. Israelis choose party lists rather than directly electing a prime minister. A government must command at least 61 seats in the Knesset, and no single party is expected to win that many, making post-election alliances central to who governs. Campaign debate has centered on Netanyahu’s leadership and accountability for the security breakdown, proposed exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox men, and a 2023 judicial overhaul that critics say weakened democratic institutions. The war and hostages also remain part of the political backdrop. Following the attack, many opponents of the judicial changes shifted their efforts toward securing the hostages’ return. The election is also being shaped by cost-of-living concerns and military conscription. Research cited in...