Divided Israelis heads to the polls for first election since Oct 7

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Israelis cast ballots in a tight election with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fighting to retain power, but analysts cautioned the vote was unlikely to significantly alter the country’s stance on foreign policy or security.
Israelis are divided on key issues, including threats to their country’s democratic institutions and settler violence, but “the public is practically united on many security-related questions,” The Wall Street Journal said. If anything, “a shift in tone might be the biggest foreign policy change,” experts at the Council on Foreign Relations noted.
Still, the world’s attitude towards Israel may change depending on who holds power: The EU is more likely to impose long-threatened sanctions if the current national security minister remains in government, Rapporteur noted.

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