As a divided Israel prepares to go to the polls, can Netanyahu pull off his greatest political trick yet?

What Happened

Israel is approaching a national election characterized by a binary political divide between supporters and opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Gadi Eisenkot, a former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff and current opposition candidate, is campaigning on a platform of integrity and institutional reform. Conversely, Netanyahu is utilizing a campaign strategy that frames the election as a choice between his right-wing coalition and an opposition bloc he claims would rely on support from Palestinian-Israeli parties. The political discourse has been marked by intense polarization, including a recent incident where media personality Yinon Magal directed a racial slur at Eisenkot.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The election outcome will determine the trajectory of Israeli governance, including the management of the ongoing war in Gaza and the future of West Bank settlement policy. The intense focus on Netanyahu's political survival versus the anti-Netanyahu bloc underscores a deep societal fracture that influences both domestic policy and Israel's international standing.

Watch For

Monitor the final polling data leading up to Tuesday's election and the subsequent formation of parliamentary coalitions. Specifically, observe whether the anti-Netanyahu bloc can secure a majority in the Knesset or if the far-right parties will gain sufficient leverage to dictate the terms of a new government.