70,000 Dead: The Price Tag on Netanyahu's 19 Years in Power

More than 70,000 Palestinians died in the Gaza war, a toll that looms over Tuesday's Israeli election. The conflict occurred under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has held office for 19 of the past 30 years. Polls indicate the race is effectively a binary choice between pro-Netanyahu and anti-Netanyahu camps, with results expected to be close.

The opposition leads with Gadi Eisenkot, a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces who entered politics four years ago. His party, Yashar, translates to straight or direct. At a rally in Modi'in this week, Eisenkot advocated for US-style term limits for prime ministers, arguing that power corrupts. He calls for a country without lies, a message that resonates with voters tired of political theater.

Noa Sadeh, 56, attended the rally and expressed fatigue with leaders who know how to talk. She wants someone who will do the doing. Eisenkot's plain style stands in contrast to the showmanship typical of Israeli politics. His bloc includes former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman, both former allies of Netanyahu who now oppose him.

Yeshai Fleisher of the Otzma Yehudit party told voters in Bet Shemesh that Netanyahu drifts left. He argued for more settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, a ministry to encourage voluntary Palestinian departure, and the death penalty. On the other side, Netanyahu's campaign posters present a rhyming choice between Yamin, the right, and Falastin, Palestine. The posters place opposition leaders alongside heads of parties representing Palestinian citizens, who constitute about a fifth of the population.

The central question for the anti-Netanyahu bloc is whether they will rely on mainly Arab parties to form a government. Pro-Netanyahu media, including Channel 14, have kept opponents on the defensive. This week, Channel 14 host Yinon Magal called Eisenkot a Moroccan monkey. Eisenkot did not use the slur at the Modi'in rally, a move admirers called restraint and doubters called a misread of his opponent.

Observers question how Netanyahu remains a contender despite the October 7, 2023 attacks and the subsequent war. His government did not eradicate Hamas, and the promised destruction of Iran's nuclear threat did not occur. He also faces an ongoing corruption trial and the fallout from his attempt to curb the supreme court. Oded Levi, who voted for Netanyahu in 2022, attended the Eisenkot rally and stated that whoever was prime minister then is responsible.

Netanyahu's durability rests on a loyal base that has not wavered, even after reports that he received credible warnings of the October 7 attack. His allies claim army and intelligence chiefs kept him in the dark, an assertion without proof. Many expect him to outmaneuver rivals in post-vote coalition talks. The Knesset has 120 seats, and the result may hinge on a single seat.

Liberal secular expatriates are flying home to vote, a group pollsters do not capture. On Thursday, a state ceremony marked the 1995 assassination of Yitzhak Rabin. Netanyahu stayed away and sent a low-ranking minister. Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats, said he is optimistic about a regional strategic process for security, though he avoided using the words peace process. A video of young Israelis singing a Rabin anthem at a Negev music festival suggests the age of Netanyahu may be nearing its end.