🔻Voting has begun in Israel in an election that many consider one of the most consequential in the history of this country.

Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. and eligible citizens have until 10:00 p.m. local time to take part in the voting.

Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, is fighting for his political survival in today’s election. In this election, voters are assessing his performance and leadership following the attacks of October 7, 2023, led by Hamas, the war in Gaza and Lebanon, and the war with Iran.

Opinion polls released on Friday show that the race to hold the premiership between Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, the former chief of staff of the Israeli army, is extremely close and tightly contested.

Israel’s parliament has 120 seats, and 61 seats are needed to form a government. Israel uses a proportional representation electoral system, and for that reason, governments in this country have always been coalitions of several parties. If no coalition can form a majority, there is a possibility that a minority government could come to power.