Israel votes Tuesday in first national election since Oct. 7 attack, seen as referendum on Netanyahu

■ Steady

Israel votes Tuesday in first national election since the October 7 attack

Israelis vote on Tuesday, October 27, in the first national election since Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack, widely seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A former general is described as the main center-right challenger. On Saturday thousands marched in Tel Aviv against Netanyahu, demanding accountability for the failure to prevent the attack.

• Neither Netanyahu's Likud nor Eisenkot's Yashar party is likely to win a majority, so Arab parties could influence the outcome.
• Campaign issues include judicial reform and conscription, with voters voicing fears over security, isolation abroad and Israel's future identity.
• Al Jazeera says a new government would not end the occupation but could rein in the far right and ease regional tensions.
• Al Jazeera reports Netanyahu has floated using cryptocurrency to bypass sanctions.