Jerusalem, Oct. 27 -- In a few hours from now, Israel's 7,331,981 voters will step out to decide who will take charge of the country and which of the 34 parties will be in a position to take control of the Knesset.

Today's vote, the first since the Hamas-led massacre of October 7, 2023, comes amid profound divisions on issues including accountability for the failures that allowed the attack and independence of Israel's democratic institutions and judiciary.

Netanyahu who has been at the centre of power for 19 years has managed to keep his coalition in power for a full 4-year term, a rarity in Israel's politics. Now, he faces a formidable challenge in the form of former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and his Yashar party, which at the ...