00:00Israel is heading towards a crucial election which will redefine the Jewish state's future
00:05and its response to future wars ties with its Arab neighbors as well.
00:10Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a serious challenge after the war.
00:14The stakes are high and Netanyahu's political future is on the line.
00:18His government has faced criticism over the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack,
00:22the hostages held in Gaza and the conduct of the war.
00:26Now, the election could also decide Israel's next steps on Gaza,
00:31relations with Palestinians and tensions with Iran.
00:34Security, the economy and public trust will be major issues as Netanyahu goes for their ultimate political battle.
00:40For Netanyahu, victory would offer a chance to retain power and defend his record.
00:45A defeat could end his long political dominance.
00:48For rival Gandhi, Isencourt and other opposition leaders,
00:52the challenge is to unite the voters behind a credible alternative.
00:56India Today is closely tracking these polls with my colleague Praneh Upadhyay being in Israel itself.
01:03He's in Tel Aviv getting us the latest from the ground.
01:10So, Praneh, how significant are these elections,
01:14especially given the fact that the war is still ongoing,
01:18be it Gaza, be it Iran, the tensions continue to escalate.
01:21How significant are these elections for Benjamin Netanyahu,
01:24as well as for the people of Israel?
01:29These are absolutely very significant elections for the state of Israel.
01:32And in fact, this election is taking place at a time when Israel is facing threat,
01:38and especially after, you know, 7th of October, Hamas terror attack,
01:41after the, you know, the recent tensions in West Asia,
01:44and the conflict is still going on.
01:47And, but, you know, I'm currently at the Ben Gurion airport,
01:49and I can see the excitement of election here,
01:52because, you know, amid all these conflicting situations,
01:55amid all these turbulences and trouble,
01:57Israel never missed its vote.
01:59And in fact, the dance of democracy,
02:02or the festival of democracy,
02:04is very important for people in Israel.
02:06And let me show you these visuals, you know, Anjali here.
02:09This is the airport, and large number of people are coming back home,
02:13just to cast their vote.
02:14In about 48 hours, Israel will be voting,
02:18and this is considered as most of the,
02:19one of the most defining, you know, electoral moment of Israel.
02:23And see that, you know, how, you know, large number of people,
02:26those who are coming from different areas,
02:27different countries, and different continents,
02:29just to cast their vote.
02:31And according to assessments,
02:32around 67,000 people have come back,
02:35just to cast their vote.
02:36They are traveling on their own,
02:38and this is the, you know, excitement for election,
02:41because for 120 seats on 27th of October,
02:45Israelis will be casting their vote,
02:47and they will decide that who will rule Israel,
02:51what will be the future of Israel,
02:53and in fact, who can secure the borders of Israel.
02:56So, you know, the ballot box will decide
02:59that who is going to secure the borders,
03:01and who is going to enjoy the confidence
03:03of the Israeli state and people of Israel.
03:06And that is the level of excitement here.
03:09Many people whom I spoke to,
03:10they said that we have traveled only to cast our vote,
03:13and because, you know, they are expats,
03:15they are working in different countries,
03:17you know, Jewish citizens,
03:19but they say that as per Israeli state's rules
03:22and the election process,
03:24people can only cast their vote in person,
03:27and that's why no postal ballot,
03:29no online voting is allowed,
03:30and that's why people are traveling back home
03:33in large numbers,
03:34and approximately 67,000 people
03:38have already traveled back home,
03:40and this is the level of, you know,
03:42this is the mood here in Israel.
03:44And as you rightly said that,
03:46this is one of the most fiercely contested elections
03:49because no single party has ever secured
03:52a majority on its own
03:54in the electoral history of Israel,
03:56and this election is also believed to be,
03:58you know, giving the result of a coalition government,
04:01but who will lead that coalition
04:03will remain a question.
04:05Absolutely, Pranay, do stay with us.
04:07So that's how the situation is currently
04:10at the Tel Aviv airport,
04:12where my colleague Pranay is currently present.
