More than seven million Israelis choose new government

Over seven million Israelis are voting today in uncertain elections for the Knesset, the first since the 2023 Hamas attacks. The elections are crucial for determining the country's governance, with 120 parliamentary seats at stake. A party or coalition needs at least 61 seats for a majority. Voters choose from 37 parties, but only those surpassing a 3.25% threshold will enter the Knesset. Key figures include current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and newcomer Gadi Eisenkot from the Yashar! party, which currently leads slightly in polls. However, neither party is projected to secure the necessary seats without post-election alliances.