Israel is conducting municipal elections on Tuesday, marking the first time the country has gone to the polls since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. These local elections were originally scheduled for late 2023 but were postponed twice due to the ongoing conflict and the mobilization of military reservists.

The vote is being viewed by political analysts as a barometer for the current political climate in Israel. While municipal elections typically focus on local infrastructure, education, and city management, this cycle is heavily influenced by the national mood. Voters are casting ballots while the country remains in a state of war, with many citizens displaced and thousands of reservists still serving in the military.

France24 reports that the election acts as a verdict on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the broader rightward shift in Israeli politics. The outcome is expected to signal whether the public maintains confidence in the current leadership’s handling of the security crisis. Because the elections were delayed for several months, the campaign period has been unusually short and muted, with many candidates struggling to gain traction while the public remains focused on the war effort. The results will be closely watched to see if the political coalitions that support the current government retain their local influence or if there is a shift toward opposition-aligned candidates.