Israelis Vote in Pivotal Election Amid Record Turnout and Tight Polls

Israelis voted on Tuesday in a pivotal election featuring record turnout in over four decades, with incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu running neck-and-neck against former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.

Polls published on Friday indicated that neither political bloc is projected to secure the 61 seats required to form a majority government, pointing toward potential coalition wrangling.

The campaign was heavily shaped by security and the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attacks, alongside disputes over judicial reforms and conscription rules for ultra-Orthodox men.