Israel is heading toward its first general election since the Hamas-led attacks on Oct. 7, 2023, with the security failures of that day dominating the political landscape. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his primary challenger, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, have placed the events of Oct. 7 at the center of their respective campaigns ahead of the Oct. 27 vote. The election, which comes three years after the deadliest day in Israel's history, has intensified a national debate over leadership, responsibility, and the country's future.
Nearly every campaign poster, speech, and debate in Israel references the Oct. 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of some 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages. The attack, described by Tamar Hermann, an expert on Israeli public opinion at the Israel Democracy Institute, as a framework for the entire political discussion, has left the country in a state of post-trauma. While Netanyahu's opponents seek to hold him accountable for the intelligence and security lapses that preceded the attack, his supporters argue he has guided Israel through a dramatic military rebound.
What the Right Is Saying
Prime Minister Netanyahu and his Likud party frame the election as a choice between continued leadership and political instability. Netanyahu has described his tenure during the conflict as leading a "war of redemption," arguing that he has guided Israel through its darkest hour. In a recent address to the United Nations, Netanyahu stated, "Our enemies expected us to collapse... Instead, we rose and fought like lions." He has repeatedly rejected calls for a commission of inquiry into Oct. 7, instead shifting blame to security officials, including former Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, whom he accused of withholding information prior to the attack.
Netanyahu's defenders argue that he was betrayed by the military establishment and that his leadership has ensured Israel's survival and strength. The Prime Minister denies reports that the United Arab Emirates and Egypt warned him ahead of the Oct. 7 attack. His campaign emphasizes national resilience and military achievements, including operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, targets in Yemen, and engagements with Iran. Likud's candidate list includes grieving parents and veterans, such as a candidate who lost both legs serving in Gaza, aiming to connect with voters' personal experiences of the war.
What the Left Is Saying
The opposition coalition, which includes figures from across the political spectrum, has labeled Netanyahu's outgoing administration the "massacre government." They argue that the Prime Minister bears ultimate responsibility for the security failures that led to the deadliest day in Israel's 78-year history. Gadi Eisenkot, the chief rival to Netanyahu, wrote on X that the election is a choice "between evasion and enlistment" and "between taking responsibility and fleeing from responsibility." The opposition has pledged to form a government of "repair and reconstruction," beginning with the establishment of an official commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 attacks.
Opposition leaders have also vowed to end draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox religious men, a policy that has generated significant anger among the secular majority during wartime. They accuse Netanyahu of threatening Israel's democratic institutions. Yonatan Shamriz, whose brother was taken hostage and later mistakenly killed by Israeli soldiers, stated in a radio interview, "We will not let anyone evade responsibility." The opposition's campaign has been bolstered by candidates directly affected by the attack, including parents who lost children on Oct. 7 and veterans who fought in the initial response.
What the Numbers Show
The Oct. 7 attack resulted in the deaths of some 1,200 people and the capture of 251 hostages. In the subsequent military offensive, local health authorities in Gaza report that over 74,000 Palestinians have been killed. The conflict has expanded beyond Gaza, with Israel engaging Hezbollah in Lebanon, seizing territory in Syria, and conducting strikes in Yemen and Iran. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers, mostly young recruits, have died during these operations.
Polling data from the Israel Democracy Institute indicates that over 60% of Israelis consider their attitudes toward Oct. 7 a central factor in their voting decision. Among the Jewish majority, this figure rises to 68%, while Arab voters are primarily concerned with crime waves in their communities. The election is scheduled for Oct. 27, with Netanyahu, who will soon turn 77, seeking a potential return to power. Netanyahu is currently the only senior figure from the Oct. 7 government still in office, following a string of resignations by top security officials.
The Bottom Line
The upcoming election serves as a de facto referendum on Netanyahu's leadership and the nation's handling of the Oct. 7 crisis. While the opposition focuses on accountability and institutional repair, Netanyahu emphasizes security and national survival. The conflict has significantly altered Israel's international standing, with the International Criminal Court issuing a warrant for Netanyahu's arrest and several foreign governments accusing Israel of genocide, a charge Israel rejects. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains a critical backdrop, though it has received less attention in the Israeli domestic campaign than the trauma of Oct. 7. The outcome will determine whether Israel continues on its current political path or shifts toward a new leadership model focused on reconstruction and inquiry.