Israelis vote Tuesday in a parliamentary election that could end Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s nearly 19 cumulative years in power, amid allegations of a dispute with the military over Iran. Israel’s Channel 12 reported that army chief Eyal Zamir resisted an instruction for an operation that military officials feared could spark renewed conflict with Tehran. Netanyahu denied the account, and Defense Minister Israel Katz said no pre-election attack was planned. Tuesday's vote is Israel’s first since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack. Critics blame Netanyahu for security weaknesses that preceded it and also accuse his government of weakening democratic institutions. Former army chief Gadi Eisenkot leads the challenge, calling for Netanyahu's government to be held accountable for failures exposed by the Hamas attack. US President Donald Trump has endorsed Netanyahu, but polls suggest neither the prime minister’s right-wing bloc nor his divided opponents may independently secure the 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset required to govern. Coalition negotiations could take weeks.
