Israelis vote Tuesday in tight race between Netanyahu and Eisenkot

Israelis will vote on Tuesday, October 27, to determine whether Benjamin Netanyahu will continue as prime minister or if Gadi Eisenkot will take over, according to reports from multiple iHeartRadio outlets.

The election is expected to be closely contested between Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party and Eisenkot's centrist Yashar party. Recent polls project Yashar winning 23 seats and Likud 19 seats, but neither is expected to reach the 61-seat majority needed to form a government, as reported by The Jerusalem Post.

Eisenkot, a former military chief of staff, has positioned himself as a moderate alternative. He resigned from Netanyahu's war cabinet due to disagreements over Gaza strategy and has campaigned on holding leaders accountable for security failures following the October 2023 Hamas attacks, according to The Media Line.

Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, seeks to maintain power with support from right-wing and religious allies. However, media forecasts vary, with some pro-Netanyahu sources suggesting a possible majority and others predicting a stalemate.

The election outcome will significantly impact Israel's future on issues including security, judicial reform, and cost of living. Preliminary results are expected the day after the election, with official results by November 4. Coalition negotiations could extend government formation for weeks or months.