How do Israel's elections work and who are the main contenders?

Current polling suggests Gadi Eisenkot is in a close contest with incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu to become Israel’s prime minister.

A race centered on two contenders

The available polling places Eisenkot and Netanyahu at the center of the contest. Eisenkot is challenging Netanyahu, who is the incumbent prime minister.

The tight standing indicated by current polling makes the contest closely watched. The result will determine who becomes Israel’s prime minister, with the available information identifying Eisenkot and Netanyahu as the main contenders in the race.

What the polling shows

Polling currently suggests that neither contender has a clear lead over the other. The information available does not provide further details about the election system, the candidates’ parties or their policy positions.

For now, the central development is the narrow polling contest between Eisenkot and Netanyahu as Israel moves toward choosing its next prime minister.