New Delhi, Oct. 27 -- Israel is voting in a parliamentary election on Tuesday, October 27, with opinion polls showing a close race between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.

Netanyahu has been Israel's prime minister for about 19 years in total. His first tenure (1996-1999) lasted three years and 18 days, his second (2009-2021) lasted 12 years and 74 days, and his third began in 2022 and continues.

The election comes against the backdrop of the wars in Gaza and Iran, which have put the government under scrutiny. According to reports, polls show Netanyahu's Likud party and its right-wing allies running close to a rival alliance led by Eisenkot, a former chief of staff and security hawk with backers...