Incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu (right) and challenger Gadi Eisenkot (left) compete for the prime‑ministership in Israel's Oct. 27 election.
ISRAEL OCTOBER 27 ELECTION: NETANYAHU VS EISENKOT
*Israel's first vote since the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks pits incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu against former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot. The outcome will decide the direction of Israel's security, settlements and judicial reforms, with global repercussions.*
Israel heads to the polls on Tuesday, Oct. 27, in the first national election since the Oct. 7 Hamas onslaught that killed nearly 1,200 citizens and produced 251 hostages. The vote arrives amid ongoing Gaza strikes, heightened tensions with Iran, Hezbollah and the Houthis, and a domestic climate charged by security failures, judicial reform battles and soaring living costs. Voters will decide whether Benjamin Netanyahu, whose current coalition is the most right‑wing in Israeli history, can retain power by leaning on far‑right partners, or whether former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot can translate his military credibility and personal loss into a mandate for accountability and a different security strategy. The result will shape Israel’s approach to settlements, the Palestinian territories and its role on the global stage.
How does Israel's proportional representation system shape coalition outcomes?
Israel's 120‑seat Knesset is filled by proportional representation. A party list that wins 5 % of the vote secures a seat. To govern, a bloc must command at least 61 seats. Because no single party has reached that threshold in recent history, governments are built from multiple parties negotiating policy concessions. After the Oct. 27 poll, coalition talks can stretch weeks or months, and a minority government remains possible if no bloc reaches a majority. This structure forces even the leading contenders to court smaller factions, including two Arab party blocs that together represent about one‑fifth of the population but are largely shunned by the major Jewish parties.
Main contenders and their political weight
Current polling shows a tight race between incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, the former head of the Israel Defense Forces who launched the Yashar Party last year. Eisenkot’s appeal rests on his military record, the loss of his son in the early Gaza war, and his resignation from Netanyahu’s war cabinet in 2024 over conflict disagreements. He campaigns on accountability for the Oct. 7 security failures. Other opposition figures include former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman, both hard‑line right‑wingers favoring permanent West Bank control, and left‑winger Yair Golan, who backs a large‑scale Israeli withdrawal. Despite ideological gaps, they could align with Eisenkot to form a government.
What issues dominate the campaign?
Security dominates the agenda. The Oct. 7 attacks killed nearly 1,200 Israelis and left 251 hostages. Netanyahu brands himself “Mr Security” and points to strategic victories since 2023, while challengers blame security lapses. Conscription of ultra‑Orthodox men, long exempted for religious study, has become a flashpoint. Judicial reform remains contentious; Netanyahu’s government continues plans that sparked mass protests before Oct. 7, with critics warning of weakened judicial independence. Cost of living, especially food and housing, also features heavily as voters feel economic pressure.
Implications for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank
A year after the Gaza ceasefire, Israel maintains control of more than half the enclave and conducts near‑daily strikes, claiming to target Hamas operatives. The Hamas‑run health ministry, deemed reliable by the UN, reports more than 74,000 Palestinian deaths since Oct. 7. In the West Bank, UN records show an all‑time high in settler attacks and rapid expansion of settlements deemed illegal under international law. Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot back Donald Trump’s peace plan, which envisions Hamas disarmament in exchange for a phased Israeli withdrawal. Eisenkot pledges to end Hamas rule within 18 months, even by force if needed. He supports settlements generally but opposes the controversial E1 project and wants to close unauthorised outposts, create conditions for a final peace settlement and curb extremist settlers.
Frequently asked questions
When is Israel's next general election?
Israel's general election takes place on Tuesday, 27 October.
Who are the two leading candidates in the election?
Incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu and former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot are the two leading candidates.
What is the minimum number of Knesset seats needed to form a government?
A government must hold at least 61 of the Knesset's 120 seats to command a majority.
The coming weeks will test Israel’s fragmented party system and the willingness of hard‑line factions to compromise. A Netanyahu victory could cement an unprecedented right‑wing agenda, deepening settlement expansion and judicial overhaul. An Eisenkot‑led coalition, even if reliant on smaller partners, may temper the most extreme policies while still pursuing a tough stance on Hamas. Either path will reverberate across the Middle East, influencing Gaza’s humanitarian outlook, West Bank dynamics and the broader geopolitical balance.
Sources: BBC World News article 'How do Israel's elections work and who are the main contenders?'