Israelis vote in pivotal national election as polls show close race

Israelis are heading to the polls on Tuesday for a pivotal national election, BBC News reported. Polling published on Friday shows incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a close race with opposition leader and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. Neither leading political bloc is projected to secure an immediate majority, which could lead to weeks or months of political negotiations. [1][4][5]

According to BBC News, an unprecedented 70,000 citizens have flown home from abroad to cast their ballots, while 500,000 people are eligible to vote for the first time. As FTMQ News reported earlier, thousands of voters have been traveling back to the country ahead of the vote. [1][5]

This vote marks the first national election in Israel since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, as FTMQ News reported earlier. Key campaign topics have included military exemptions for ultra-Orthodox citizens and a stalled official inquiry into the events of October 7. Prime Minister Netanyahu has previously warned against external interference from Iran, while also cautioning that the nation must prepare for potential global sanctions. [4][5]

Israeli law strictly enforces an election silence period, meaning no opinion polls can be published from the end of the Friday before the vote until polling stations close at 22:00 on election day. [2]