Israel is approaching its 27 October election with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing a major challenge from former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.

The vote will be the country’s first national election since the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023 and the subsequent regional wars. Security and leadership are central to the contest, alongside the question of which parties could form a government.

Reuters’ examination of the candidates’ positions found important areas of agreement. Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot oppose an independent Palestinian state and take a hard line on Hamas retaining weapons in Gaza.

Their positions differ on aspects of settlement policy in the occupied West Bank. Eisenkot supports settlements in principle but says they should comply with Israeli law. He has pledged to act against unauthorised outposts and violence by settlers against Palestinians.

Netanyahu has overseen a rapid expansion of settlements and relies on a different set of political allies.

Those potential coalition partners matter because voters elect a parliament, rather than directly choosing a prime minister. The governing alliance will influence the policies any leader can pursue.

The election presents consequential leadership choices, even where the leading rivals share positions on fundamental issues.