Israel Election Live Updates: Polls Open as Netanyahu Faces Challenge Led by Eisenkot

Key Points:

• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking re-election leading a far-right coalition of nationalists and ultra-Orthodox Jews, facing a fragmented opposition led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, who lost his son in the Gaza war.
• The election is framed as a critical juncture, with Netanyahu’s coalition promoting a more religious Israel and tighter control over the West Bank and Gaza, while opponents warn it risks undermining democracy and isolating Israel internationally.
• Israel’s proportional representation system means no party is expected to win a clear majority, making coalition-building complex and potentially prolonged, with official results expected by November 4 and government formation possibly taking weeks or months.
• Key opposition figures, including Eisenkot, criticize Netanyahu’s handling of the October 7 attacks and vow to improve Israel’s international standing and curb extremist violence, while Netanyahu resists an independent probe and pushes judicial reforms criticized as threats to democracy.
• Major parties include Netanyahu’s Likud and its far-right allies, Eisenkot’s centrist Yashar!, and other opposition blocs; Arab parties, though unable to vote, may influence coalition dynamics post-election if opposition parties are willing to partner with them.