Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot face an election with neither bloc assured a majority. The result could leave smaller parties deciding between deadlock, minority rule and national unity.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cast his ballot in Jerusalem, urging Israelis to vote “the right way” in a pivotal election.

A decorated former Israeli army chief has emerged as a leading election challenger after serving in the war cabinet and suffering devastating personal losses following the Oct. 7 attacks.