Jerusalem, Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is heading toward an election that must be called by October amid mounting political pressure, with an interim U.S. deal with Iran adding to existing challenges. He confirmed this week that he intends to run again.
Election outlook
Netanyahu’s prospects in an autumn election have long appeared uncertain. Opinion polls show his right-wing coalition on course to lose, although Israel’s parliamentary system leaves open the possibility that he could assemble a new governing coalition.
Impact of regional developments
U.S. President Donald Trump has moved to end the wars in Iran and Lebanon before Israel achieved its stated goals, complicating Netanyahu’s position. His March statement that “we are changing the face of the Middle East” has come under greater scrutiny as a result.
Record and political standing
Netanyahu, 76, is Israel’s longest-serving prime minister and has dominated the country’s politics for long periods since the 1990s. Supporters have portrayed him as a security-focused leader, while critics have directed intense anger at his leadership.
Likud has presented Netanyahu as a hawk on security who resisted pressure for a Palestinian state and supported action against Iran and allied groups in the region. In 2025, Netanyahu said: “There will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River,” adding that “for years I have prevented the creation of that terror state, against tremendous pressure”.
Domestic criticism
Netanyahu is already facing corruption allegations, domestic political controversies and criticism over security failings linked to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. He has not taken responsibility for the security failures that preceded the attack.
Critics in Israel say he shifted security attention away from the Gaza border and did not treat Hamas as a serious threat. They also argue that although the wars brought military successes, they did not produce lasting victories.
Voter judgment
Voters are expected to assess Netanyahu’s handling of the wars and Israel’s relationship with the United States, the country’s most important ally. Tens of thousands of people have been killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza and Lebanon, while Israel’s military death toll has reached its highest level in decades.