Israel votes in closely contested Knesset election that could determine Netanyahu’s future
Israelis began voting Tuesday, October 27, for the country's 120-member Knesset in the first national election since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attacks and the ensuing war. The Central Elections Committee prepared approximately 12,018 polling stations for more than 7.3 million eligible voters, with regular voting scheduled to continue until 10 p.m. local time. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition faces a divided opposition that includes former army chief Gadi Eisenkot. Issues include defense policy, accountability, ultra-Orthodox military-service exemptions, judicial independence and the future of relations with Palestinians. An individual party is unlikely to secure a majority; a government generally needs coalition support from at least 61 lawmakers. No result is known at this article's Tuesday daytime reporting cutoff.
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