Polls open across Israel in tense election

Thousands of volunteer election observers monitored Israeli polling stations amid a closely contested election. Benjamin Netanyahu faced a strong challenge from rival Gadi Eisenkot, with voters focused on October 7 security failures, military service exemptions, judicial reforms and national security

Jerusalem: As polls start to open on Tuesday, thousands of volunteer Israeli election observers were in place at polling stations across the country to monitor the election.

Eyal Sher said he volunteered this year with a civil society group called Elections Guards because he wanted to play a role in such a critical vote.

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“We have a corrupt government that will do anything to stay in power,” he said. “Every vote counts and we want to make sure the procedures are kept intact.” Netanyahu has been Israel’s most dominant politician for nearly two decades, and a poor showing could end the 77-year-old’s lengthy career on a bitter note and open the door to a new era in Israeli politics.

A victory would cement his image as the ultimate political survivor.

Netanyahu has been a master at forming coalitions with religious and nationalist partners.

But opinion polls now suggest a tight race between his bloc and the one led by his chief rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, which says Netanyahu should be held accountable for Oct 7 and the failure to turn battlefield victories into diplomatic achievements.

The deadliest day in Israel’s history has featured prominently in the campaign, but there has been almost no debate over Israel’s wartime conduct in Gaza, which led to an international arrest warrant against Netanyahu.

Israel’s occupation of much of southern Lebanon and parts of Syria, as well as its two wars launched against Iran, also has broad support among Israelis.

The candidates have instead focused on Netanyahu’s role in the security breakdown on Oct 7; his efforts to exempt ultra-Orthodox Jews from military service and a 2023 judicial overhaul seen by critics as an assault on Israel’s democratic institutions.