Politics
Israel’s parliamentary election, being held today, is expected to see a fierce contest between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political opponents.
Israel’s parliamentary election, being held today, is expected to see a fierce contest between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his political opponents. Netanyahu faces the risk of losing power after nearly 19 years in office, while the path to forming a government remains uncertain and challenging for his rivals as well. The election is Israel’s first parliamentary vote since the October 2023 attack on Palestine. The attack intensified tensions across the Middle East, as Israel waged war in Gaza and Lebanon and also launched airstrikes against Iran.
Benjamin Netanyahu has served as Israel’s prime minister for most of the period since 2009. He previously held the office in the 1990s. He is one of Israel’s most prominent political figures internationally and is regarded as a controversial leader at home. His supporters call him “King Bibi” and describe him as a strong leader capable of defending Israel in a region surrounded by adversaries.
On the other hand, his political position has come under pressure because he is wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged war crimes in Gaza and faces corruption charges in Israel. Netanyahu rejects the allegations. Following the October 7 attack, support for his Likud party declined significantly, raising questions about his security policies. His government’s policies on religion and the state have also faced opposition from many Israelis.
Despite these challenges, Netanyahu has demonstrated considerable political resilience. The Israeli prime minister has said that, if he wins the election, he will seek to establish a broad national government. However, if no party or coalition secures a clear majority, he could remain in office as caretaker prime minister for several months.
Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, 66, lost his son during the fighting in Gaza. He presents himself as a security-focused leader who stands apart from traditional politics. He leads the new centrist party Yashar, a Hebrew word meaning “straight” or “honest.” Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, 54, is a former commando and right-wing leader who previously served as an aide to Netanyahu. He has joined forces with former Prime Minister Yair Lapid. Their new political alliance is called “Together,” and its campaign focuses on national unity, restoring normalcy and healing the country’s social divisions. Despite their differing political ideologies, the two leaders succeeded in removing Netanyahu from power in 2021.
Former defence minister Avigdor Lieberman, 68, was once a close ally of Netanyahu. However, he has taken an even harder line than Netanyahu on Palestinian militant groups. In 2018, Lieberman resigned from the government, describing Netanyahu’s Gaza policy as too lenient. His party, Yisrael Beiteinu (Israel Our Home), draws support from immigrants who arrived from the former Soviet Union.
Former general Yair Golan was praised for helping rescue people during the Hamas attack. He leads the Democrats party, formed through a merger of remnants of Israel’s historic Labour Party and the left-wing Meretz party.
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir are key allies of Netanyahu. Their far-right policies toward Palestinians have faced widespread international criticism. Smotrich supports the expansion of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and has expressed a desire to eliminate the prospect of establishing a Palestinian state. Ben-Gvir was convicted in 2007 of incitement to racism against Arabs. He supports the death penalty for convicted Palestinian militants, tougher conditions for Palestinians held in Israeli prisons and easier access to firearms for Israeli citizens. Both politicians have also supported the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and Israeli settlement there.
For years, Netanyahu has relied on the support of two ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas. These parties demand exemptions from compulsory military service for most members of their communities. The relatively low employment rate within these communities and their reliance on government benefits have also become sources of resentment among many Israelis, particularly as the country continues to face wartime conditions.
Parties that have not clearly aligned themselves with either Netanyahu or his opponents could also play an important role in the election. These include Ra’am and the Joint List, which represent Israel’s Arab minority, accounting for approximately 20 per cent of the country’s population. Other participants in the electoral contest include the newly formed right-wing party People of Israel and The Reservists, a party positioned from the center to the right. Opinion polls have shown fluctuations in the standing of these parties. Their role could prove decisive in government formation, as smaller parties may determine who takes power if no major bloc secures a clear parliamentary majority.
US President Donald Trump has once again expressed support for Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s parliamentary election. Trump urged Israeli voters to vote for Netanyahu so that they could complete the work the two leaders had begun together.
Israel’s 120-seat parliament, known as the Knesset, normally holds elections every four years, although early elections have also been common. Seats in the Knesset are allocated to parties according to the votes they receive under a proportional representation system. No single party has ever secured an outright parliamentary majority on its own, meaning that governments are formed through coalitions of different parties. Coalition negotiations often continue for several weeks. If the candidate nominated to form a government fails, other candidates may be given an opportunity. If no government can be formed, new elections may be called. In the meantime, the existing cabinet continues to function as a caretaker government.
