Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has dominated Israeli politics for decades, is facing a major test in the ongoing election. There is widespread suspense over whether he will win again and retain power or be ousted by the opposition.
The election is being held in the shadow of the 2023 Hamas attack and the protests that erupted in the country afterwards. All eyes are on the verdict voters will deliver on his rule.
Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has 120 seats and a term of four years. Unlike India, the country has no separate constituencies and is treated as a single constituency. Voters do not cast ballots for individual candidates but directly for the political party of their choice. Only parties that secure at least 3.25 percent of the total votes are given seats in parliament, and a party needs the support of at least 61 members to form a government.
Netanyahu has served as prime minister for nearly 19 years since 1996, and his Likud party is determined to return to power. This time, however, the opposition is working hard with the aim of defeating him. Strong leaders such as former military chief Gadi Eisenkot and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett have joined forces to challenge him.
Held amid wartime conditions and security concerns, the outcome is significant not only for Israel but for the entire Middle East. It remains to be seen whether Netanyahu wins and returns as prime minister or Israelis give a new leader a chance.