Description: Before Israel’s tightly contested election on 27 Oct, the country faces division on every socio – economic platform with Israel’s security as the major priority. Prime Minister Netanyahu is faced with corruption charges, accusations of mismanaging the war in Gaza and failing to prevent the terrorist attacks on 07 Oct 2023. Among his most prominent political rivals is Gadi Eisenkot, a former Chief of Staff to the IDF, who established his Yashar party in 2025. Other rivals include former Prime Minister Naftali Bennet and Yair Lapid. The other parties on Israel’s political portfolio are the far – right Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism led by Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. The Israeli Arab parties are represented by Hadash Taal and Ra’am while Gideon Sa’ar represents the centrist New Hope Party. Israel’s Parliament consists of 120 seats which means that a ruling party must at least win 61 seats. In every other scenario the two top running parties need to form a coalition to form the next government. Eisenkot emerged as the most favorable alternative to Netanyahu, adopting similar right – wing stances on many crucial issues for Israel, such as the Gaza war, the inquiry on the 07 Oct attacks and Israel’s security stance in the Middle East.
Impact: Eisenkot is likely to edge forward in the first round of elections, but he is unlikely to be able to immediately form a governing coalition. Netanyahu is likely to consider the support from the far – right parties in the short to mid – term, which are on the rise in popularity and could determine the formation of the next government. In case of a stalemate in the elections, Netanyahu is likely to politically prevail since he would be caretaker Prime Minister until the next elections are held in a couple of months’ time. He is likely to use this period to negotiate a broader coalition with politically aligned parties in order to oust Eisenkot from his likely favorable position to form the next government. Eisenkot is likely to gather support from Lapid’s and Bennet’s parties in the likely case that he edges ahead of Netanyahu in the first round of elections. The next Israeli government is unlikely to be formed immediately, since post – election coalition talks would determine whether Israel would be deadlocked into a prolonged political crisis as opposed to the formation of the new government. Israel’s foreign policy stance as well as resolving domestic issues are unlikely to change or modify, since all leading parties have adopted a similar policy towards key election issues. Israel is highly likely facing a political infighting in the short to mid – term period, where post-election coalition talks would determine the country’s long – term strategic posturing and internal political order.