Israel votes in Knesset election today: 120 seats at stake, poll shows neither bloc with a majority

Israel is holding its parliamentary Knesset election today, Tuesday 27 October, with signs of a fierce contest between the country's two main electoral blocs.

The result will determine the fate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the country's longest-serving leader. However, there is no guarantee that a change of leadership in Israel would bring relief to Palestinians' lives. The information comes from a Reuters report.

There are about 7.3 million voters in Israel this time. Voting is for the Knesset's 120 seats, and 61 seats are needed for a single majority. Under the country's law, voters do not vote directly for the prime minister; they vote for their preferred political party. Each party publishes a list of candidates before the election, seats are distributed in proportion to votes received, and a party needs at least 3.25 percent of the vote to enter the Knesset.

Netanyahu leads the right-wing and religious-nationalist camp with his Likud party. Important partners in his government are the far-right Jewish Power of Itamar Ben-Gvir and the Religious Zionism of Bezalel Smotrich. Ben-Gvir serves as national security minister and Smotrich as finance minister. The ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism are also possible Netanyahu allies.

Opposite them is the opposition camp made up of Yashar, Together, Israel Beiteinu and the Democrats. Who would become prime minister if this camp wins has not yet been announced. Former army chief and Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot is, however, being put ahead among possible prime ministerial candidates. Together leader and former prime minister Naftali Bennett is also a claimant, as is former prime minister Yair Lapid.

According to a Reuters poll published last Friday, Likud and Yashar could each win 22 seats, Together 14, and the Democrats and the Joint List 9 each. Jewish Power, Shas and United Torah Judaism could each win 8, Israel Beiteinu and Religious Zionism 7 each, and Ra'am 5.

On that count, Netanyahu's camp could win 53 seats and the opposition camp 52 — meaning neither bloc is likely to win a majority on its own. The support of Arab parties representing Israel's Palestinian citizens could therefore play an important role in forming a government.

Most opposition leaders, including Eisenkot, have ruled out an alliance with the Arab parties, however. If no agreement is reached, another election could follow; until then Netanyahu could remain caretaker prime minister. Netanyahu has so far served six terms as prime minister; if he forms a government again it would be his seventh term.

This is the first election in Israel since the Hamas-led attack of 7 October 2023. Responsibility for the security failure and the demand for an independent inquiry are major voting issues. Netanyahu has refused to accept responsibility, while the opposition is demanding accountability. There is also voter anger over the exemption of religious seminary students from military service and over the relationship between state and religion.

Mohammad Elian, a displaced resident of Gaza, told Al Jazeera: "Even if Netanyahu loses, there will be no big change in Israel's policy. Even so, I want Netanyahu's defeat."