Israel’s upcoming general election on October 27 is widely seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, particularly in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and the subsequent military response. Netanyahu’s nearly two-decade-long tenure has been marked by both security challenges and ongoing corruption investigations, influencing voter sentiment ahead of the vote.
Despite differences in political style, the leading candidates—including Netanyahu, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, and a joint ticket of former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and current opposition leader Yair Lapid—appear largely aligned on major security and geopolitical issues. Analysts note a significant consensus on critical matters such as the threat posed by Iran and opposition to establishing a Palestinian state under current conditions.
Regarding Gaza, Netanyahu emphasizes a hardline approach, maintaining that Israeli forces will neither withdraw nor rebuild the area until Hamas is fully disarmed. Eisenkot has pledged that Hamas’s control of Gaza will end within 18 months of his potential premiership, through either diplomatic means aligned with a framework proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump or military strategies designed to dismantle Hamas’s military capacity. Bennett similarly insists on maintaining current boundaries until Hamas is disarmed, advocating for cutting out Qatar and Turkey’s influence in Gaza and instead working closely with Egypt before initiating reconstruction efforts under his “Gaza 2.0” plan.
On Iran, all leading candidates identify the regime in Tehran as Israel’s foremost security threat. Netanyahu continues to call for the eventual collapse of the Iranian government and its nuclear ambitions. Bennett has stated that Israel must take comprehensive measures to overthrow the Iranian regime before it acquires nuclear weapons, emphasizing both military and nonmilitary tools. Eisenkot underscores the need to prevent Iran from accumulating enriched uranium or nuclear weapons capability, while cutting off Iranian support for Hezbollah.
In terms of Palestinian statehood, consensus among the main candidates remains firm in opposition. Netanyahu has flatly rejected the establishment of an Iranian-influenced Palestinian state in Gaza or the West Bank, a position echoed by Eisenkot, who also opposes annexing the West Bank to avoid endangering Israel’s identity. Bennett, with a background in the settlers’ movement, similarly opposes a Palestinian state and settlement evacuations, although he supports removing illegal constructions. Avigdor Liberman, another right-wing candidate, calls for dismantling the Palestinian Authority and suggests Jordan administer civil governance in the West Bank under Israeli security control. Meanwhile, the left-wing Democrats’ leader, Yair Golan, stands as the only prominent candidate advocating for political dialogue regarding the future of the Palestinians.
Differences between Netanyahu and his rivals are most notable on the issue of settler violence in the West Bank. Netanyahu has minimized international concern, attributing violent incidents to a small number of individuals and denying the existence of widespread vigilantism. His opponents have taken a stronger stance; Eisenkot has called for a firm crackdown on settlers taking the law into their own hands and for removing illegal outposts in Palestinian-controlled areas. Bennett described such attacks as acts of terror, insisting on clear condemnation while affirming his support for the settlement project. Lapid has also unequivocally labeled settler violence as terror.
In Lebanon and Syria, Israel maintains security zones aimed at countering Hezbollah and other threats. Netanyahu justifies these zones as necessary until the Lebanese militant group is disarmed. Eisenkot supports transitioning responsibility for these areas to Lebanese forces backed by a multinational presence, while emphasizing that Israel’s security ultimately depends on the Israeli military. He takes a hard line on Syria but has shown some openness to negotiated security arrangements and troop withdrawals. Bennett has criticized Netanyahu’s restraint in confronting Hezbollah, proposing a more direct Israeli response to Hezbollah attacks by targeting Iran.
As the election approaches, Netanyahu’s challengers seek to present a fresh leadership alternative while sharing broad agreement on Israel’s core security challenges and regional threats. The contest largely centers on leadership style and strategy rather than stark policy divergences.