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Israelis head to the polls today for one of the most consequential elections in the country's history — with rival camps warning that victory for the other would put Israel's future in jeopardy. Why it matters: The elections are yet another referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership and the path he's taken the country down over the past four years. It's Israeli voters' first chance to hold Netanyahu accountable for the security failures that led to the Hamas-led October 7 attacks — or to reward him for what he claims were unprecedented military successes in the three years of war since. If Netanyahu and his far-right coalition win, they're likely to renew the war with Iran in an effort to topple its regime, intensify their crackdown on Israel's democratic institutions and move to end Netanyahu's corruption trial. Driving the news: Netanyahu's campaign was totally focused on the war with Iran. After two military campaigns over the last 18 months in which he claimed that Israel destroyed Iran's nuclear program, Netanyahu's main talking point was that Iran is moving closer to a nuclear bomb. Earlier this week, Netanyahu went as far as posting an AI-generated image of Tel Aviv being destroyed by an Iranian nuclear bomb — implying that's what will happen if he loses. Behind the scenes: Netanyahu spent weeks trying to persuade President Trump to give him a green light to strike Iran ahead of the elections. Trump did not go along. In the 72 hours before the elections, Netanyahu tried to order the Israel Defense Forces to take steps to lay the ground for a potential new military strike or take actions short of an overt attack, Israeli officials say. IDF chief of staff General Eyal Zamir refused to abide. He warned that such a strike could lead to a miscalculation that quickly escalated hostilities and potentially forced the elections to be called off, the officials said. The Israeli officials said Zamir insisted there was no operational urgency in taking these steps ahead of the elections and eventually got Netanyahu to back off. The other side: Netanyahu's main opponent, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, ran on holding Netanyahu accountable for the October 7 failure, forming a national commission of inquiry and drafting ultra-Orthodox men to strengthen the IDF after three years of war. Another Netanyahu opponent, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, blamed the incumbent for what he called extreme government dysfunction the past four years. Both attacked Netanyahu over the fact that some of his closest advisers and his campaign manager received money from Qatar in return for trying to sway Israeli public opinion during the war. Bennett called it "treason." (Netanyahu said he didn't know his advisers were paid by Qatar, and the aides said the money was for a project involving the World Cup.) State of play: Netanyahu and his ultranationalist, ultra-Orthodox bloc arrived at the election unorganized, divided, and highly unpopular. Many of its voters are demoralized, and they face a significant risk of losing voters who back pro-Netanyahu parties that don't pass the 3.25% electoral threshold. The opposition bloc, by contrast, arrived at the elections well organized and with little risk of losing votes to the electoral threshold. The voters of the opposition parties have been much more motivated, with many civil society organizations focusing on canvassing and increasing turnout. More than 50,000 Israelis who have left the country over the last four years traveled back to participate in the elections, according to estimates. Most of them are expected to vote for the opposition parties. The turnout among the Arab minority in Israel is pegged to be the highest ever, with the two Arab parties projected to win around 15 seats combined. With 61 seats needed for a majority, that's a sizable bloc. But the final days of the campaign saw infighting between the opposition parties. Some members of Eisenkot's bloc have yet to accept his leadership. Yes, but: Netanyahu has defied all odds multiple times before. He could still energize his base on election day and win back disgruntled voters who considered switching sides. Netanyahu doesn't have to win. He only needs to get enough seats to block his opponents from forming a coalition or swearing in a minority government. That would allow him to serve as a caretaker prime minister for another six months until another election is held. What to watch: If the opposition bloc wins more seats than Netanyahu's, it will be up to Eisenkot to quickly unite his political partners behind a government that would remove Netanyahu from power. More than 7 million people are eligible to vote, and turnout is expected to be the highest in decades. Polls close at 4 pm ET.

Here’s what to know as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to stay in power.

Even if Benjamin Netanyahu loses, new leadership is unlikely to radically change Israel’s trajectory on issues important to the US.

Democracy. The Hamas attack. Wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. Netanyahu’s long tenure. For Israelis returning home to vote, the list of momentous issues is long.

A new NPR poll reveals Democrats' advantage going into Election Day, congressional Democrats are forming a task force to protect the election, Netanyahu vies for reelection as polls open in Israel.

More than 7.3 million Israelis are eligible to vote at 12,018 regular polling stations nationwide.

Will Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hold power? Israel's election becomes a referendum on Oct. 7 failures as no bloc secures a clear majority.

Bloomberg Daybreak Europe is your essential morning viewing to stay ahead. Live from Brussels, we set the agenda for your day, catching you up with overnight markets news from the US and Asia. And we'll tell you what matters for investors in Europe, giving you insight before trading begins. Global stocks advanced as Anthropic's filing for an initial public offering renewed optimism over the artificial intelligence trade following recent strains. HSBC shares slumped in Hong Kong after the bank posted earnings that fell short of estimates in the third quarter and kept its outlook for the rest of year unchanged. And Israel is holding its first election since the 2023 Hamas attack, a vote many consider to be the country’s most consequential in decades. Today guest: Verena Ross, European Securities and Markets Authority Chair. (Source: Bloomberg)

Israel is holding its first election since the 2023 Hamas attack in a vote many consider to be the country’s most consequential in decades. Polls have consistently forecast a razor-thin outcome as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks reelection and his opponents, led by former armed forces chief Gadi Eisenkot, call him Israel's greatest threat. Bloomberg's Dan Williams reports from Jerusalem. (Source: Bloomberg)

Most polling shows prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition will lose its majority, with Gadi Eisenkot the leading opposition contender What you need to know about Israel’s election Families bereaved in the 7 October attacks began election day with a protest at 6.29 am, the same time Hamas launched its attack just over three years ago. They gathered in the Tel Aviv plaza that has become known as “ hostages square ”, because it was the centre of demonstrations demanding the return of over 200 captives from Gaza . Continue reading...

As Israel votes, hard-right nationalism competes with the country’s founding ideals. The outcome could shape Israel’s identity for years.

Renewed diplomatic efforts to end the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil prices lower

Israel is holding its first election since the 2023 Hamas attack that traumatized the nation and triggered the wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, a vote many consider to be the country’s most consequential in decades.

Israel is holding its first elections since the Hamas-led attacks of 2023 triggered a chain of conflicts across the region — a quick guide the key players, issues and when to expect a result.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing his country's first national election since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terror attack. Matt Gutman takes a look at what's at stake and who might unseat Netanyahu.

Netanyahu has spent three years fighting a war that has redrawn the Middle East. His opponents promise change, but Israel has much to lose by abandoning the strategy that brought it this far, writes Gadi Taub. As Israelis head to the polls for the first national election since the October 7 attacks, international media coverage has centered largely on the growing challenge to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the centrist Yashar party (read our profile of Eisenkot here), has emerged as his main contender. Yet amid the attention on Netanyahu’s challengers, much of the coverage’s presumption that his time in power will soon be over, and the vociferous international criticism of the Israeli prime minister, one perspective has been harder to come by here in the United States: the affirmative case for Netanyahu. Today we bring you exactly that, courtesy of Israeli historian and author Gadi Taub, who also offers his view on what will happen after the polls close in Israel. —The Editors To the naked eye, the Israeli election looks like it is about a single person: The right is going to vote for Benjamin Netanyahu, while the left—rather than voting for Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Liberman, or Yair Golan—is going to vote against Netanyahu. In some ways, that’s true—but not because the drama is personal. Rather, Israel is facing a choice between two visions of its future: one personified by Netanyahu’s continued leadership, and the other by his removal. It would do well to opt for the former. Let me explain. Israel has now passed three years of war, and much of Tuesday’s elections concern the beginning of that war: October 7, 2023. One of the most potent criticisms of Netanyahu is that this traumatic day happened on his watch. That’s true. But it’s far less important that it happened than what Netanyahu did in its aftermath.

Tens of thousands of Israelis are returning home to vote in a tight election.

Israelis will go to the polls on Tuesday in what many describe as the most consequential election in years. It's the first vote since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and Israel's war in Gaza. Prime Minister Netanyahu has been campaigning that he'll keep Israel safe. But the opposition says Netanyahu failed to prevent the 2003 attack and is blocking an investigation into it. Nick Schifrin reports.

Israel’s military chief resisted the prime minister, who then pressed in recent days for a separate action, short of an overt strike, according to an official and a person briefed on the matter.

On Tuesday, Israel will hold its first parliamentary elections since the Hamas terrorist attacks on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel has been on a war footing ever since. This election is in part a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's aggressive tactics. CBS News chief correspondent Matt Gutman reports.

Tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad are expected to fly in for this month's election. That's according to AID Coalition, a U.S.-based nonprofit focused on strengthening Israel's democracy.

President Trump amps up rhetoric against El-Sayed; Israel is holding its first Parliamentary elections since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks.

The panel also accuses Israel of committing crimes against humanity in the West Bank. Israel condemned the report.

A younger generation of Russian-speaking immigrants in Israel is getting ready to vote, many for the first time.

Israeli voters will cast their ballots on Tuesday in the nation’s first elections following the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attacks. Embroiled in a multi-front conflict and facing historic unpopularity among its allies, the nation and its people are living in a drastically different political landscape than three years ago. The voters will now decide if […]