Key facts
- Disenchanted Likud supporters in Dimona are campaigning for rival Gadi Eisenkot.
- The election follows the October 7 Hamas attack.
- Polls predicted Netanyahu's coalition losing its majority.
- Gadi Eisenkot's party is polling neck-and-neck with Likud.
- Dimona, a traditional Likud stronghold, has become a political battleground.
In Dimona, a traditional stronghold of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, voters are actively campaigning for his centrist rival, Gadi Eisenkot, ahead of Israel's election. The vote follows the October 7 Hamas attack, which has significantly impacted Likud's popularity, with polls suggesting Netanyahu's coalition may lose its majority. However, Eisenkot faces challenges in forming a clear path to power as the race tightens. Dimona has become a key battleground, with former Likud loyalists like Yossi Assayag urging change, while others, like Ruti Ohana, remain steadfast in their support for Netanyahu. The campaign targets undecided voters, particularly those who previously supported Likud but are now open to persuasion, with Eisenkot's background and security credentials appealing to a significant portion of the electorate.