Israeli election of fears across spectrum
The gist
Israelis vote for the 120-seat Knesset, the first national election since the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023.
Final polls split on whether Netanyahu's bloc or the opposition can assemble a government.
How it unfolded
- Oct 7, 2023Hamas-led gunmen stormed through Gaza's border fence, killing and taking 251 hostages — described as Israel's worst security failure.
- Jul 2026At an event in Jerusalem, an opposition candidate asked voters what they feared most if Netanyahu's government won another four-year term.
- Oct 21, 2026An advertisement for an Israeli television channel featuring Netanyahu and Eisenkot appeared on a bridge in Tel Aviv.