How do Israel's elections work and who are the main contenders?

Israel's general election takes place on Tuesday 27 October.

Key points

• It's the first election since the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel and its subsequent conflicts in Gaza and with Iran, Hezbollah and the Houthis.
• Between 2019 and 2022, Israel held five separate elections as parties struggled time and again to co-operate.
• At 22: 00 local time (20: 00 GMT) on election day, Israeli broadcasters will publish exit polls.
• Current polling puts incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu in a tight race with Gadi Eisenkot, a former head of the Israel Defense Forces, to become prime minister.
• Nevertheless, Netanyahu has once again framed himself as "Mr Security", pointing to strategic victories in Israel's wars since 2023.

Plenty of view it as one of the most pivotal elections in Israel's history, with global implications. Who are the main contenders?

Eisenkot's popularity stems partly from his military credentials and his relative newness in politics, having formed his Yashar Party only last year.

He lost his son, a soldier, in the first months of the Gaza war, and served in Israel's war cabinet under Netanyahu until resigning in 2024 over disagreements regarding the conflict. He has built his campaign on calls for accountability over the security failures that led to 7 October.

Other opposition leaders include former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman – both right-wingers who take hardline positions on security and advocate permanent Israeli control over much of the occupied West Bank – and Yair Golan, a left-winger who supports Israel's withdrawal from sizeable parts of the territory. Despite their differences, they could work with Eisenkot to form a administration.

Netanyahu's current administration is the most right-wing in Israel's history. So as to remain in power, he will probable have to rely on the backing of some of his existing far-right coalition partners. Some hold ultra-nationalist positions, such as calling for Israel to annex the West Bank and for the "migration" of Palestinians from Gaza – which could amount to the forced displacement of civilians. Some members of Netanyahu's own Likud party have additionally called on Palestinian "migration" from the territory.

As regarding one-fifth of Israel's population is Arab – numerous of whom describe themselves as Palestinian citizens of Israel, there are two Arab party blocs in the running too. In theory, they could prove kingmakers. But all but one of the leading Jewish parties have ruled out working with them. Israel's far right find fertile ground among first-time voters. How do the elections work?

Israel's parliament – known as the Knesset – has 120 seats, meaning a administration must hold 61 seats to command a majority.

Israel uses a proportional representation voting system, meaning governments have always been coalitions of multiple parties.

This means that after election day, it may take weeks or even months before the next administration is formed – with different parties wrangling for concessions and deals being struck.

If no bloc can form a majority, it is feasible a minority administration could take power. What are the main problems?

Meanwhile, the dominating topic has been security – with the challengers to Netanyahu all heavily criticising the security failures that led to the 7 October attacks, in which almost 1, 200 residents were killed and 251 others taken back to Gaza as hostages. Nevertheless, Netanyahu has once again framed himself as "Mr Security", pointing to strategic victories in Israel's wars since 2023.

Conscription is additionally a major topic. Historically, ultra-Orthodox Jewish men in full-time religious study have been exempt from military service, but since war broke out this has become an increasingly divisive policy.

Judicial reform has additionally featured heavily during the campaign. Netanyahu's administration is still pursuing contentious aims for reforms to the judicial system. It led to mass protests before 7 October. Critics say the intends would compromise the independence of the judiciary and threaten democracy.

As in plenty of countries, cost of living is another key problem. Food and housing costs have grown steadily over recent years.

What does it mean for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank?

For context, a year on from the ceasefire in Gaza, Israel continues to carry out near-daily strikes on the territory – saying it is targeting Hamas operatives – and maintains control of more than half of it.

More than 74, 000 individuals have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since 7 October 2023, according to the Hamas-run health ministry – whose figures are considered reliable by the UN.

In the West Bank, attacks by Jewish settlers are at an all-time high, according to UN records, while Israeli settlements. It are illegal under international law, are rapidly expanding.

So for Palestinians, the shape of Israel's administration is a major factor in their lives.

On Gaza, the two leading camps – headed by Netanyahu and Eisenkot – hold similar positions – with both supporting Donald Trump's peace plan. It would see Hamas offer up its weapons in exchange for a phased Israeli troop withdrawal from the territory. Eisenkot lately pledged to end Hamas rule in the territory within 18 months, through military means if necessary.

In the West Bank, Netanyahu's camp largely wants to continue with its policy of settlement expansion.

Eisenkot supports Israeli settlements in general, but opposes proceeding with the controversial E1 settlement project which would, in effect, split the West Bank in two. He additionally wants to close some unauthorised settler outposts built on Palestinian land, create conditions for a final peace settlement with the Palestinians, and crack down on extremist Jewish settlers.

For decades, plenty of mainstream Israeli politicians advocated for a two-state solution – the creation of an independent Palestinian state in peaceful coexistence alongside Israel – although Netanyahu has long resisted it. But backing for the idea has been declining for years. In this election, none of the leading Jewish parties are campaigning on it, and plenty of have outright rejected it. How Israel is expanding settlements in drive to reshape West Bank. When will we know the results?

At 22: 00 local time (20: 00 GMT) on election day, Israeli broadcasters will publish exit polls. These will offer some indication of the direction of voting, but can vary significantly and current polling suggests a clear projected winner is unlikely.

Preliminary results are projected the next day, with official results scheduled to be published on 4 November.

After consulting with party leaders, President Isaac Herzog will then invite whichever leader he believes has the best chance of forming a administration to do so.

This process can take more than a month, and if it fails the president may ask another leader to try. If that additionally fails, Knesset members can ask the president to allow a third leader to try. And if that fails, new elections will be called.

In short, how do Israel' s elections work and who are the main contenders? Is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.