70,000 Gaza Dead Frame Tight Israeli Election

The Gaza death toll of 70,000 is a major factor in the tight Israeli election. Netanyahu first became prime minister three decades ago and has held the office for 19 of the past 30 years. The two camps are best described as pro-Netanyahu and anti-Netanyahu, and polls show them running close. At a rally this week in Modi'in, between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, supporters of the leading opposition challenger, Gadi Eisenkot, cheered a speaker who is far from a showman. Eisenkot is a former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff, the son of working-class Moroccan Jews, and entered politics only four years ago. His party's name, Yashar, means straight or direct. He calls for 'a country without lies' and proposes US-style term limits for prime ministers, 'because power corrupts.' Attendees said his plain style is an asset. Noa Sadeh, 56, said she is tired of people 'who know how to talk' and wants someone 'who will do the doing part.' The opposition bloc includes former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman, both natural figures of the nationalist right who once worked closely with Netanyahu before falling out with him. On the far right, the pitch is also framed around the prime minister. Yishai Fleisher of Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party told voters in Bet Shemesh that Netanyahu tends to drift left and must be pulled to the right. He argued for more settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, a ministry to encourage the 'voluntary' departure of Palestinians, the death penalty and more weapons for Jewish civilians.

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A photorealistic news photo scene that fits this story: an Israeli voter at a polling station in a modern city, with a long queue of people waiting to vote, and a large screen showing the current results of the election, with a dark and serious mood.

70,000 Gaza dead frame tight Israeli election.

70,000 Gaza dead frame tight Israeli election.

70,000 Gaza dead frame tight Israeli election.