Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is confronting the most difficult political race of his career as multiple crises continue to diminish his coalition's base. Support has dropped significantly due to ongoing regional military operations, the aftermath of the 7 October 2023 attacks, and bitter disputes regarding the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men. Gadi Eisenkot has stepped forward to lead a wide opposition bloc that recent polls indicate has the best chance to defeat the prime minister. Currently, Netanyahu's Likud party and its allied partners are falling short of the 61 parliamentary seats needed to establish a majority.
Key points
Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as the strongest political challenger to unseat Benjamin Netany…: Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as the strongest political challenger to unseat Benjamin Netanyahu.
The opposition bloc under Gadi Eisenkot includes right-wing, centrist, left-wing Jewish,…: The opposition bloc under Gadi Eisenkot includes right-wing, centrist, left-wing Jewish, and Palestinian parties.
Military conflicts and disputes over ultra-Orthodox conscription have significantly erode…: Military conflicts and disputes over ultra-Orthodox conscription have significantly eroded support for the governing coalition.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Three months from now, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will face the toughest election of his political career.
The fallout from the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023, Israel's military campaigns across the Middle East and the contentious issue of conscripting ultra-Orthodox Jewish men have reshaped the country's political landscape, eroding support for Netanyahu and his governing coalition.
At the centre of that shift is Gadi Eisenkot, the former army chief who has emerged as the prime minister's strongest challenger.
With Israelis due to vote on 27 October, opinion polls consistently suggest that Netanyahu's Likud party and its allies are struggling to secure the 61-seat parliamentary majority needed to form a government.
Eisenkot now leads a broad opposition bloc spanning right-wing, centrist, left-wing Jewish and Palestinian parties, with recent polling suggesting he has the strongest chance yet of ending Netanyahu's long grip on power.
The United States has banned imports from three Chinese genomics companies over allegations that they collaborated with the Xinjiang government to enable forced labor involving Uyghurs and other ethnic minorities. This list identifies organizations that utilize or facilitate forced labor among minority groups or source materials from the Xinjiang region. In response to similar measures, Beijing has consistently dismissed accusations of forced labor and other abuses against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Xi…
Australia must drastically expand its naval workforce to support the ambitious $368bn Aukus security pact. Retired military leaders warn that failing to secure thousands of specialized personnel threatens the viability of operating advanced nuclear-powered vessels. This personnel shortage poses a critical hurdle for defense planners aiming to integrate complex allied submarine technology over the coming decades.