The latest poll in Israel, released five days before the Oct. 27 national election, has Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s election alliance in a deadlock with the opposition alliance led by Yashar party’s Gen. (ret.) Gadi Eisenkot. Each of the two blocs is set to receive 51 seats in Israel’s 120-member Knesset, where it takes 61 members to form the next government. Given Netanyahu’s history of running roughshod over the judiciary, the military and the constitution in better times, it doesn’t bode well—as a desperate Netanyahu faces such a tenuous path to retaining power.

Eisenkot is a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces. His son and two nephews died in the recent war on Gaza. He resigned from Netanyahu’s Unity Cabinet, in large part, due to Netanyahu’s running of the war.