As Netanyahu prepares for elections, his foes in Iran and Lebanon could get a vote
Why it matters: Netanyahu's political survival hinges on the outcome of ongoing regional conflicts.
- Netanyahu must decide when to hold Israel's next elections, with a deadline by the end of October, but he can call early elections.
- A decisive victory in war could boost Netanyahu's public standing and encourage early elections, though this scenario appears increasingly unlikely three weeks into the conflict.
- Recent opinion polls indicate that despite overwhelming support for the war, Netanyahu and his coalition are not benefiting politically, providing little incentive for him to push up the election date, according to Yohanan Plesner of the Israel Democracy Institute.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a critical decision on Israel's next election date, with the ongoing wars in Iran and Lebanon potentially dictating his political future. A victory could solidify his legacy and quell calls for accountability over the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, while a defeat risks making him the highest-profile political casualty of the conflict.
