Netanyahu bloc holds narrow edge as Israeli election approaches

Israel’s pro-Netanyahu bloc holds a narrow advantage over Zionist opposition parties ahead of the October 27 election, with a television poll giving the two camps 55 and 50 seats respectively. Neither side appeared on course to secure a majority in the 120-seat Knesset.

Four rival opposition movements have agreed to cooperate in an effort to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party, Yair Golan’s Democrats, Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beytenu and the Together alliance led by Naftali Bennett and co-founded by opposition leader Yair Lapid. Their leaders signed a declaration on September 26 pledging not to attack one another during the campaign and to collaborate on forming a government after the vote. The agreement named no candidate for prime minister, although Eisenkot is viewed as the likeliest contender.

The campaign is unfolding amid continuing debate over responsibility for the October 7 attack, allegations of corruption, ultra-Orthodox military service and efforts to exclude Arab parties from political life. Netanyahu, seeking a sixth term, has also made the documentary *NAZA* a campaign target. His office said he asked military, domestic security and legal officials to investigate its anonymous Israeli military and intelligence sources for possible security and other offenses.

The film, which won a Special Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival, features 24 unnamed insiders alleging civilian deaths linked to Israel’s use of artificial-intelligence targeting systems in Gaza. The Israeli military has rejected the film’s portrayal, saying it falsely depicts the army as seeking to harm civilians.