Israel’s election: What is at stake?

Israel votes today and this result could shape what happens next in the Iran conflict. For longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the election is ultimately a referendum on his leadership. His supporters credit him with taking the fight to Iran and its allies, but his critics want an independent inquiry into the October 7 massacre. He's also facing corruption charges, which he denies. And that's where Washington comes in. President Trump has endorsed Netanyahu and tied the vote to the Iran war, suggesting that if Israel chooses anyone else, America may have to take on Iran alone, something he says he's not inclined to do. He also said US strikes could resume after the midterms if there's no Iran deal. It's a complex backdrop for Netanyahu's main challenger, the former army chief Gaddy Eisenot, who claims Netanyahu is no longer fit to lead Israel through wartime. The contest is narrow. An average of final polls shows neither leader is near the 61 seats needed to govern. That means we may not know the outcome here of the vote for days or even weeks to come.