Israelis began voting Tuesday in the first parliamentary election since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing a close challenge from former military chief Gadi Eisenkot^1,2,3.

Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time and were due to close at 10 p.m., Middle East Eye reported, with 36 lists competing for 120 Knesset seats². About 7.3 million people are eligible, France 24 reported, including more than 500,000 first-time young voters¹.

Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, completed a full four-year term with a right-wing, far-right and ultra-Orthodox coalition that took office in December 2022^2,3. Pre-election surveys showed his bloc short of 61 seats and running even with Eisenkot’s Yashar-led camp^1,2.

Eisenkot has pledged an independent inquiry into Oct. 7 security failures, which Netanyahu’s government has resisted, France 24 reported¹. Both leading camps have said they would not bring predominantly Arab lists into a coalition, even if those parties win 14 to 16 seats^1,2,3.

Al Jazeera’s account stressed a broader rightward shift after wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran and said policy toward Palestinians was not the central ballot choice among Zionist parties³. France 24 noted Israel’s international isolation after the Gaza campaign and West Bank settlement growth¹.

Exit polls were expected after closing; a full count was projected by Oct. 30 and official results on Nov. 4². Coalition talks could take weeks, and new elections remain possible if no majority forms¹.