Netanyahu faces mounting pressure as Israel’s election approaches

Benjamin Netanyahu is approaching Israel’s October 27 election under growing political pressure. Several polls cited in the report show support for the prime minister and his Likud party falling as opposition figures gain ground.

The election carries personal stakes for Netanyahu, who faces corruption, fraud and breach-of-trust charges in Israel. He also faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant issued in 2024 over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Netanyahu views the prime minister’s office as protection against a possible conviction in the corruption case, which is still before Israel’s Central Court.

A poll published Sunday night by Israel’s public broadcaster projected 52 seats for Netanyahu’s bloc. Non-Arab opposition parties were projected to win 55 seats, while Arab parties were forecast to take 13. A coalition needs at least 61 of the Knesset’s 120 seats to form a government. Opposition parties could seek Arab support, although most of their leaders reject that option.

Attention has shifted to Gadi Eisenkot, a former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff seen as the opposition figure most capable of forming a government. His new Yashar party has risen in recent weeks and moved ahead of Likud in the poll, with 24 projected seats compared with 21 for Likud. Eisenkot also led Netanyahu as the preferred candidate for prime minister, with 40% choosing Eisenkot and 37% Netanyahu. Netanyahu has been using various approaches to strengthen right-wing parties and has faced accusations in Israel of overlooking settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank to retain settler support.