Politics
Israel’s 2026 vote tests Netanyahu’s political comeback after Oct. 7 attack
Israeli voters head to the polls Tuesday in a close election that could end Benjamin Netanyahu’s long political career or extend his time in power. The vote is the country’s first since the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023, and years of domestic crises and regional wars.
JERUSALEM — Israeli voters are choosing a government Tuesday in a closely contested election that puts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future at stake, nearly three years after the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023.
Netanyahu, 77, leads the Likud party and has been one of Israel’s most dominant politicians for nearly two decades. In the immediate aftermath of the attack — the deadliest security breakdown in the country’s history — public grief and anger fueled expectations that he would soon leave office.
Instead, Netanyahu has remained in power through a turbulent period marked by domestic crises and wars across the region. His return to a tight reelection race has surprised critics who once expected his political career to end after the attack.
The election’s result could mark a turning point in Israeli politics. A poor showing for Netanyahu could close out his lengthy career, while a victory would reinforce his reputation as a formidable political survivor. No result was available before voting began Tuesday.