Netanyahu Seeks Seventh Term Amid Political Turmoil

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking a seventh term in office as the country holds legislative elections on Tuesday. This election comes after a period of significant political turmoil and regional conflict, including the October 2023 Hamas attack and the subsequent devastating war in Gaza. Netanyahu's coalition government has completed a four-year term, a feat not seen in Israel for over three decades. This stability follows three years of coalition collapses and five early elections, which plunged the country into political paralysis and delayed budget approvals.

Netanyahu's political journey has been marked by resilience. He previously returned to power in 2009, a decade after his party lost control, and again in 2022 after an 18-month absence. In 2021, he faced defeat after failing to pass a budget and amid corruption charges. Despite leading a fragile coalition, he gambled on early elections to strengthen his grip on power before his trial. However, the results did not secure enough seats for him to remain in office. After months of negotiations, a diverse coalition formed, ending his 12-year consecutive rule. Naftali Bennett, a right-wing politician and former ally of Netanyahu, took over the premiership under an agreement with Yair Lapid, a centrist and former journalist. This coalition, comprising eight parties, struggled with internal conflicts, leading to its collapse in June 2022.

In November 2022, elections returned Netanyahu to power as right-wing voters shifted towards more extremist parties, reducing support for centrist and left-wing forces. His Likud party formed a coalition with far-right and religiously conservative parties, securing a clear majority in the Knesset and forming the most right-wing and religiously conservative government in Israeli history. The coalition won 48.4% of the votes, translating to a parliamentary majority as two opposition parties failed to meet the electoral threshold.