Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel will address the United Nations General Assembly while fighting for his political future in a critical national election. Despite surviving politically after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack, Mr. Netanyahu faces a tight race against centrist rival Gadi Eisenkot, who leads in polls on suitability for office. Israel is preparing for its first election since the devastating war in Gaza began, with Mr. Netanyahu's Likud party trailing in polls after completing a tumultuous four-year term—the first Israeli coalition to do so in over 30 years.

Analysts note that while the opposition needs support from Arab parties to form a government—a prospect many Jewish voters reject—Mr. Netanyahu's master political skills and a fatigued public have helped him survive. Shalom Lipner, a former prime ministerial aide, states that a variety of circumstances aligned to allow Mr. Netanyahu to keep juggling, including a hapless opposition that was outmaneuvered at every turn.