Relatives of Oct. 7 Attack Victims Are Running for Parliament in Israel’s Election
A Close Election Day
Israeli voters went to the polls Tuesday in record numbers, in a contest between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition and a loosely led group of opposition parties. Turnout appeared especially high among Arab citizens, who make up about a fifth of Israel’s population; by late afternoon, some Arab-majority towns had already exceeded their 2022 election totals.
Polling was due to end at 10 p.m. Opinion polls put the two sides roughly level, and forming a government could take weeks or months under Israel’s parliamentary system. Netanyahu’s nationalists and ultra-Orthodox allies face a politically varied opposition led loosely by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, whose son was killed in the Gaza war.
Families Enter Politics
Several candidates in Tuesday’s election have relatives who were killed or taken hostage during the Oct. 7 assault. It is the first national vote since the attack, which shook Israel and set off its longest war.
Families of hostages gained public attention through television interviews and protests across the country. Parties from across Israel’s political spectrum recruited candidates from these families, known as the Oct. 7 families; Zvi Mor, whose son Eita was released from captivity, is among those named.
Disputes Beyond the Ballot
Netanyahu has opposed creating an independent commission to investigate the attacks and has pledged to continue changing the judicial system. Critics say those changes could weaken Israel’s liberal democracy, while allies have called for Israeli rule in the West Bank and Gaza to be entrenched permanently.
Likud asked election officials to extend voting beyond 10 p.m., but officials were unlikely to approve the request. Rival parties said the unusual appeal could cast doubt on the election’s integrity; election officials reported no sign of widespread irregularities despite Netanyahu’s claims raising suspicion about Arab turnout.
Key points
- Relatives of people killed or taken hostage on Oct. 7 are running in Israel’s first national election since the attack.
- Israeli authorities say about 1,200 civilians and soldiers died and roughly 250 people were taken hostage to Gaza.
- Turnout was particularly high among Arab citizens, with some towns exceeding their 2022 totals by late afternoon.
- Polls suggested a close race, and forming a governing coalition could take weeks or months.