Israelis headed to the polls in large numbers Tuesday in an election widely viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership following three years of war.
- By midday, just five hours after polling stations opened, voter turnout had reached 31.5%, the highest participation at that point in an Israeli general election since the 1970s, according to the Central Elections Committee.
Why it matters: This is Israel’s first general election since the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023, which triggered a prolonged conflict and fundamentally reshaped the country’s political landscape.
The political stakes: Voters are weighing Netanyahu’s leadership during the war and the country’s direction after years of conflict and uncertainty.
The bottom line: The unusually strong early turnout underscores the significance of an election that will help determine Israel’s political leadership and its path forward after three years of war.