2026 Israeli General Elections

2026 Israeli General Elections are the 26th Knesset elections, scheduled for 27 October 2026 to determine the 120 members of Israel’s parliament, the Knesset. The elections were planned following the dissolution of the 25th Knesset on 17 July 2026.^【1】 Under the proportional representation system, in which the entire country is treated as a single electoral district, voters cast their ballots for party lists; only lists surpassing the 3.25% electoral threshold will win seats. These elections will be the first general elections held after Israel’s large-scale attacks and occupation of Gaza began on 7 October 2023. They will also be the first elections since 1988 to be held on the legally mandated date.^【2】 Political competition has intensified between the government bloc led by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and the opposition bloc headed by former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot; opinion polls released before the elections have shown that neither bloc is likely to reach the 61 seats needed to form a government.^【3】

The general framework for elections in Israel is established in Article 4 of the Basic Law: The Knesset. This article states that “The Knesset shall be elected by general, national, direct, equal, secret, and proportional elections, in accordance with the Knesset Elections Law; this article may not be amended without the support of a majority of Knesset members.”

Amending this article requires the support of at least 61 Knesset members in each of three readings. The main legislation governing the electoral process includes the Basic Law: The Knesset (1958), the Knesset Elections Law (Consolidated Text) 5729–1969, the Political Parties Law 5752–1992, and the Knesset Elections Regulations 5733–1973. Under the Political Parties Law, only parties registered in accordance with the law or coalitions of registered parties may submit candidate lists for the elections.^【4】

The Knesset’s term of office is four years. General elections are held on the third Tuesday of the Hebrew month of Heshvan in the year the term expires. If the preceding Hebrew year was a leap year, the election date is moved to the first Tuesday of the same month.

The Knesset may be dissolved before the end of its term by a law passed with the support of at least 61 Knesset members. Early elections may also be triggered by the failure to form a government, the failure to pass the state budget within the legal deadline, or a request by the Prime Minister for dissolution, approved by the President, if an alternative government cannot be formed. Under extraordinary circumstances, the Knesset’s term may be extended with the support of at least 80 Knesset members.^【5】

Basic Law: Government, Article 30(b), stipulates that a departing government continues to perform its duties until a new government is formed. During this period, the outgoing government operates under the status of a caretaker government, known in Hebrew as memshelet maavar.^【2】

The entire country is treated as a single electoral district. Voters do not vote for the Prime Minister or individual candidates but for closed party lists, in which parties pre-order their candidates.

Parties determine the order of their candidates through internal primaries, party committees, or leadership decisions. If a party wins ten seats, the first ten candidates on its list enter the Knesset. Additionally, multiple parties may run together on a joint candidate list.^【6】

Every Israeli citizen who has reached the age of 18 and is registered in the voter registry is eligible to vote, while citizens who have reached the age of 21 may stand as candidates for the Knesset.^【5】 To vote, voters must present identification at the polling station using an Israeli identity card, a valid driver’s license, a valid passport, a military ID issued by the Israel Defense Forces, or a Knesset membership ID.

In Israel, there is generally no provision for voting from abroad or by mail. Voters must appear in person at their assigned polling station on election day. Special polling stations are established for disabled persons and other groups specified by law.^【2】 The right to vote from abroad is limited to diplomats, staff of diplomatic missions, and their family members. Voting for these voters began on 15 October 2026 at Israeli diplomatic missions abroad.^【7】

Election day is a public holiday in Israel. Most polling stations open at 07:00 local time and remain open until 22:00. Political parties’ election campaigns continue until the polls close.^【8】 Voter turnout in the previous election (2022) was 70.63%.^【9】

To gain representation in the Knesset, a list must receive at least 3.25% of the valid votes. The electoral threshold was initially set at 1% until the 13th Knesset elections, raised to 1.5% in the 13th Knesset elections, increased to 2% before the 17th Knesset elections, and then raised to 3.25% in March 2014. This threshold remains in effect for the 26th Knesset elections.^【5】

The threshold sets the minimum number of seats a party can win at four. Based on the voter turnout in the previous election, it was projected that the threshold in 2026 would correspond to approximately 165,000–170,000 votes. Votes cast for lists that fail to cross the threshold are not transferred to other lists and are excluded from seat allocation. In the 2022 elections, approximately 417,000 votes (about 9% of the total) were cast for parties that failed to cross the threshold. In April 2019, Naftali Bennett’s New Right party received 3.22% of the vote, and in 2022, Meretz received 3.16%, both falling below the threshold; in 2022, Balad narrowly failed to cross it as well.^【9】

Seat allocation is regulated by Articles 81–83 of the Knesset Elections Law. The total number of valid votes received by lists that surpass the electoral threshold is divided by 120 to determine the number of votes required for one seat (the divisor). According to Article 81, each qualifying list receives a number of seats equal to the whole number obtained by dividing its total valid votes by the divisor.^【2】

The remaining seats are distributed using the Bader-Ofer method, named after Knesset members Yohanan Bader and Avraham Ofer. This system, known internationally as the Jefferson method, calculates each party’s share of seats by taking into account remaining votes.^【5】 Parties may enter into surplus vote agreements before the election to combine their votes for seat allocation purposes. For such agreements to be valid, both lists must individually surpass the electoral threshold. These agreements may allow one list to gain at most one additional seat.^【9】

As of the final application deadline of 16 October 2026, the following surplus vote agreements have been submitted:

• Likud – Religious Zionism
• Shas – United Torah Judaism
• Yashar – Democrats
• Israel Our Home – Together (Beyahad)
• Raam – Joint List

Otzma Yehudit, led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Yedekim–Economy Party, and Amha Yisrael have not announced any surplus vote agreements within the designated period.^【10】

In Israel, the Prime Minister is not directly elected by the public. The position is assumed by the person who succeeds in forming a government that can secure a vote of confidence in the Knesset.^【8】 Since the first parliamentary elections in 1949, no single party has ever secured a majority of 61 seats, and all Israeli governments have been coalition governments.^【11】 Coalition agreements typically involve the sharing of ministerial portfolios and consensus on specific policy goals.^【2】 The post-election government formation process consists of the following stages:^【9】

Regardless of the election outcome, Netanyahu will continue to serve as interim Prime Minister until the new government is sworn in.^【12】 There have been instances where the leading party failed to form a government. In the 2021 elections, Likud won 30 seats but fell short of 61; the leader of the party with only seven seats, Naftali Bennett, became Prime Minister.^【9】

The precursor to the Labor Party, Mapai, dominated Israeli politics for the first thirty years after the state’s founding but maintained power by forming coalitions with religious parties and smaller political parties. The 1977 elections marked a pivotal moment in Israeli politics when Menachem Begin’s Likud ended the Labor Party’s nearly thirty-year hold on power.^【13】

In the 1984 elections, when no political bloc could secure a majority to form a government, a national unity government was formed between Likud and the Alignment led by the Labor Party. Under the agreement, Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Shamir alternated the Prime Ministership in two-year terms.^【13】

Israel experimented with direct election of the Prime Minister in 1996, 1999, and 2001; in 1996, Netanyahu was elected, followed by Ehud Barak in 1999 and Ariel Sharon in 2001. This system was abolished because it failed to reduce dependence on coalitions and contributed to the fragmentation of the party landscape.^【13】

Between April 2019 and November 2022, Israel held five general elections due to rival blocs’ inability to form or sustain a government. The 27 October 2026 elections will be the sixth general election since 2019 and the first since 1988 to be held at the natural end of the Knesset’s full term.^【12】

^{Elections and results between April 2019 and November 2022【12】}

The rotation government established between Netanyahu and Gantz in 2020 collapsed before Gantz assumed the premiership. In 2021, Bennett and Lapid formed a coalition including right-wing, centrist, and left-wing parties, as well as Raam, which represents Israeli Palestinian citizens; Bennett became Prime Minister, and after his government’s dissolution in 2022, Lapid assumed the premiership.^【12】

In the November 2022 elections, Likud, as the leading party with 32 seats, formed a coalition of 64 seats with the ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties and the joint list of Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit. This government was regarded as the most right-wing in Israeli history. The leader of Religious Zionism, Bezalel Smotrich, assumed the Ministry of Finance and authority over civilian affairs in the occupied West Bank, including settlement planning; Otzma Yehudit’s leader, Itamar Ben-Gvir, became Minister of National Security, overseeing the police.^【14】

The coalition’s composition changed multiple times during its term. Benny Gantz’s National Unity alliance joined the government after 7 October 2023 and withdrew in June 2024; Gideon Saar’s New Hope party joined the coalition in September of the same year. Otzma Yehudit withdrew from the government in January 2025 due to the Gaza ceasefire and returned two months later.

In July 2025, United Torah Judaism left the coalition after the failure to advance a bill granting exemptions from military service to ultra-Orthodox men; Shas withdrew its ministers from the government but remained in the coalition.^【15】

At the time of the Knesset’s dissolution, Netanyahu’s coalition held 60 of the 120 seats. It has been agreed that New Hope will merge with Likud in this election. During the dissolution period, the opposition bloc held 59 seats, while the Noam party held one seat independently.^【12】

An ultra-Orthodox faction declared in May 2026 that it no longer considered Netanyahu a partner and would demand early elections, citing the failure to fulfill the coalition’s promise to enact a law granting military exemptions.^【16】 United Torah Judaism withdrew its support from the government during this period and called for its collapse.^【17】 To maintain control over the process, the coalition submitted its own dissolution bill on 13 May 2026. On 20 May 2026, the bill to dissolve the Knesset was approved in its first reading with 110 approval votes, with no votes against or abstentions.^【18】 The Knesset was dissolved on 17 July 2026, and elections were scheduled for 27 October 2026.^【2】

The Israeli Central Elections Committee conducted its preparations at a logistics center in the town of Shoham, near Tel Aviv. Committee officials announced that over 12,000 polling stations would be established nationwide and more than 100,000 people would be assigned to polling stations. A budget of 650 million shekels has been allocated for election preparations. Over 500 million ballot papers have been printed, far exceeding the number of registered voters. Officials noted that only a limited number of ballot papers will be printed in both Arabic and Hebrew.^【8】

Parties submitted their candidate lists to the Central Elections Committee in early September 2026, delivering a total of 38 candidate lists. The lists were expected to be finalized on 27 September after the Committee’s review. Netanyahu’s Likud list of 35 candidates includes, after him, Energy Minister Eli Cohen, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, and Justice Minister Yariv Levin. According to a survey by the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI), 70% of Jewish Israelis expressed concern about the integrity of the 2026 elections.^【19】

According to the Israeli Central Elections Committee, approximately 7.3 million people aged 18 and over are eligible to vote. The exact number of registered voters is 7,331,981.^【9】 Approximately 17% of registered voters are citizens of Palestinian origin.^【20】 Israeli Palestinian citizens constitute approximately 20% of the country’s population but have limited representation in parliament.^【13】 Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jews constitute approximately 14% of the population.^【21】

Approximately 3 million adult Palestinians living in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and occupied East Jerusalem have no right to vote in the election of the government that controls their borders, freedom of movement, and legal status. In contrast, adult Israeli settlers living in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem are eligible to vote. Most East Jerusalem Palestinians hold residency status rather than Israeli citizenship; they may vote in Jerusalem municipal elections but not in Knesset elections.^【12】

In the elections, 38 parties and alliances are competing to surpass the 3.25% threshold.^【8】 Of these lists, 13 have surpassed the threshold in at least one poll. Parties are generally grouped into four categories: the Netanyahu-aligned bloc, the opposition (“change”) bloc, Arab parties, and parties that do not align with either bloc.^【9】

This bloc consists of parties from the outgoing government and Amha Yisrael, which has declared its support for Netanyahu. Netanyahu’s expectation that right-wing parties would unite under his leadership has not materialized.^【9】 Religious Zionism, which ran in an electoral alliance with Otzma Yehudit in 2022, is running separately from Otzma Yehudit in this election despite Netanyahu’s appeals.^【21】

On 26 September 2026, the five leading figures of the opposition met at Yair Lapid’s home in Tel Aviv and signed a non-aggression and coordination agreement. In addition to Lapid, the meeting included Naftali Bennett of Beyahad, Gadi Eisenkot of Yashar, Yair Golan of the Democrats, and Avigdor Liberman of Israel Our Home. In the principles statement issued after the meeting, the leaders stated: “Despite our ideological differences, our common and highest goal is to establish a Zionist and statesmanlike government dedicated to repair and reconstruction.”^【22】

The five leaders representing four lists have pledged to cease attacks against each other and have established joint teams in the areas of voter turnout, media strategy, and government preparation. Their common principles include expanding the military service obligation, a state investigation into 7 October, a term limit for the Prime Minister, and a constitution. The question of who will lead the opposition bloc has been left for after the election.^【23】 Liberman has accused Eisenkot of seeking an agreement with Netanyahu.^【24】

Parties representing Israeli Palestinian citizens participate in the elections as two lists. Hadash, Taal, and Balad have formed a joint list to increase voter turnout and strengthen representation; Mansur Abbas’s Raam has not joined this alliance. The Joint List, founded by four parties in 2015, won 13 seats in 2015, reached a record 15 seats in 2020, and then dissolved due to internal disagreements. These parties held a total of 10 seats in the 25th Knesset.^【13】

The Prime Ministerial race is effectively between Binyamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot.^【9】 There is no term limit for the Prime Minister in Israel.

The 77-year-old Binyamin Netanyahu is Israel’s longest-serving Prime Minister and has led Likud for many years.^【25】 Netanyahu has served as Prime Minister for a total of 19 years: from 1996 to 1999, from 2009 to 2021, and since 2022.

Netanyahu has structured his campaign around military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, the war with Iran, and his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump. He opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state during his tenure and presents the race as a binary choice.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu in 2024 on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. In Israel, Netanyahu is being tried for fraud, breach of trust, and accepting bribes, charges he denies.^【26】 The corruption case began in 2020 and is still ongoing.^【27】 Israeli President Isaac Herzog is attempting to negotiate a plea deal with Netanyahu that could include his withdrawal from politics.^【18】

The 66-year-old Gadi Eisenkot comes from a working-class family of Moroccan Jewish immigrants. He served for forty years in the Israeli military and rose to the position of Chief of Staff.^【26】 Eisenkot served as Chief of Staff from 2015 to 2019. Eisenkot is regarded as the architect of the Dahiya Doctrine, which advocates the use of “disproportionate force” and large-scale destruction of civilian infrastructure against groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas.^【24】

Eisenkot entered politics in 2022 with Benny Gantz’s National Unity alliance and served as an observer in Netanyahu’s war cabinet. In June 2024, Eisenkot left the war cabinet alongside Gantz, accusing Netanyahu of lacking a strategy to end the war.^【9】 In 2025, Eisenkot founded the Yashar party (Hebrew for “honest” or “straightforward”). The party advocates professional governance, mandatory military service for all, including ultra-Orthodox Jews, and the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the failures before 7 October.^【24】

Eisenkot has stipulated that coalition partners must accept that Israel is a Jewish and democratic state, that military service must be mandatory for all, and that Hamas must be dismantled. It is noted that if Eisenkot forms a government, he will become Israel’s first Prime Minister of Mizrahi origin.^【26】

Former Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett (2021–2022) and Yair Lapid (July–December 2022) announced in April 2026 that they would form a joint list, later named Beyahad (Together). If the list wins the election, Bennett will assume the premiership. The 54-year-old Bennett is a right-wing politician who opposes Palestinian independence and supports settlement construction in the occupied West Bank. Before entering the Knesset in 2013, Bennett served as Netanyahu’s chief of staff and as head of the Yesha Council, which represents local administrations of settlements in the West Bank.^【26】

The 62-year-old Lapid is the founder of the centrist Yesh Atid party and the leader of the opposition in the Knesset.^【24】 Both leaders oppose military exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews and have pledged to establish a commission of inquiry into 7 October.

The 68-year-old Avigdor Liberman founded the Israel Our Home party in 1999 to represent right-wing Russian-speaking immigrants.^【24】 The party draws support from approximately 1.5 million Russian-speaking Israelis; it has never surpassed third place in any election but has been a coalition partner in seven of the last ten governments.^【21】 Liberman has refused to serve under Netanyahu’s leadership or join any coalition that includes Haredi parties or Arab parties. He also opposes minority governments.

The 64-year-old retired general and former Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Golan is the leader of the Democrats party, formed in 2024 by the merger of Labor and Meretz. Golan is the only leader in the opposition bloc who comes from the Zionist left and is open to working with Palestinian parties.^【24】

The Democrats led protests against judicial reforms and opposed the annexation of the West Bank; the party’s list includes an Arab candidate, Soumaya Bashir.^【21】 At a press conference in May 2025, Golan said, “A sane country does not kill babies as a hobby,” and later retracted the statement amid intense criticism.^【24】

The 50-year-old Itamar Ben-Gvir is Israel’s Minister of National Security and leader of the ultra-nationalist Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party. Ben-Gvir has multiple convictions, including for supporting a terrorist organization. He was not drafted into the military in his youth due to his extremist views. Ben-Gvir was a follower of the rabbi Meir Kahane, who advocated the expulsion of Palestinians from Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank.^【26】 In 2025, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway imposed sanctions on Ben-Gvir and Smotrich for repeatedly inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.^【28】

The 46-year-old Bezalel Smotrich is the Finance Minister and leader of the Religious Zionism party. Smotrich advocates the application of Jewish religious law (halakha), judicial reforms, the cancellation of the Oslo Accords, the dismantling of the Palestinian Authority, and the expansion of Israeli settlements in Gaza and the West Bank.^【21】

The ultra-Orthodox community is represented primarily by Shas, which draws support from Jews of Spanish, North African, and Middle Eastern origin, and United Torah Judaism, which represents Jews of Central and Eastern European origin. The core objectives of these parties are to secure military exemptions for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students, provide social support to large families, and protect state funding for their institutions.^【29】

The chairman of Shas in the Knesset is the 67-year-old rabbi Aryeh Deri. United Torah Judaism consists of the unification of the Hasidic Agudat Yisrael and the Litvak Degel HaTora; its chairman in the Knesset is Yaakov Asher.^【21】

Likud and Otzma Yehudit petitioned the Central Elections Committee, alleging that Arab parties and certain candidates deny the existence of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state, support armed struggle against Israel, or incite racism.

On 23 September 2026, the Central Elections Committee banned the participation of the two main lists representing Israeli Palestinian citizens, the Joint List and Raam, as well as Hadash Knesset member Ofer Cassif and Balad leader Sami Abu Shehadeh.^【30】 The Committee barred Raam and, in a separate vote, the Joint List by a vote of 18 to 5, Cassif by 18 to 5, and Abu Shehadeh by 31 to 4.^【31】

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara opposed the banning of the two lists and Cassif, arguing that the evidence did not meet the legal threshold; she took a different stance on Abu Shehadeh. The petition against Abu Shehadeh was largely based on an article published on 8 October 2023 on the Arab 48 website, which described the attack as “an important historical event from a military, political, and strategic perspective.”

The Attorney General argued that the article’s language could be interpreted as supporting armed struggle. Abu Shehadeh, however, stated on X that he opposes armed struggle and supports “a political and civil struggle for peace, justice, and equality.”^【32】

Yair Golan, leader of the opposition Democrats party, supported the ban on Abu Shehadeh, stating, “A person who seeks Jewish-Arab partnership does not speak this way, period.” Golan characterized any legitimacy granted to armed struggle or harm to civilians as a “red line.” Cassif, however, described the Committee’s decision as “another nail in the coffin of the remnants of democracy in Israel” and asserted that he and the Joint List would return to the next Knesset.^【32】

Petitions were also filed seeking to bar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit and Smotrich’s Religious Zionism from the election; the Central Elections Committee rejected these petitions. Attorney General Baharav-Miara stated that the attempts to bar the far-right parties lacked sufficient legal grounds. Golan stated he supported banning Ben-Gvir as well.

The Committee’s decisions have drawn criticism for double standards: Arab parties and candidates were excluded while parties led by far-right ministers subject to international sanctions remained on the ballot.^【32】 The legal organization Adalah, representing Abu Shehadeh, stated in its statement on the process: “This entire process is a deliberate attempt to delegitimize Palestinian citizens and their parliamentary representatives and to turn racism against Palestinians into election propaganda.”^【33】 Adalah questioned why far-right Israeli candidates who called for violence against Palestinians and made statements “amounting to incitement to genocide” were allowed to run while Palestinian candidates were barred.^【34】

The Israeli Supreme Court began hearing appeals against the Central Elections Committee’s decisions on 1 October 2026. A panel of nine justices heard testimony from Hassan Jabareen, representing Abu Shehadeh. Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit informed Abu Shehadeh that a majority of the justices favored disqualifying his candidacy and granted him until the next day to withdraw.^【35】

Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of Otzma Yehudit, who filed the petition to disqualify Abu Shehadeh, appeared in court wearing his lawyer’s robe and declared, “Sami Abu Shehadeh cannot be a Knesset member. The place of a terrorist supporter is not in the Knesset, but in prison.” Abu Shehadeh, however, stated during the hearing that his words had been “taken out of context” and that he was “completely opposed to violence.”^【36】 Abu Shehadeh acknowledged that a paragraph in his article had been misstated but affirmed that he did not support armed struggle and that his intent was to call for the politicalization of the conflict.^【37】

On 2 October 2026, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, overturned the Central Elections Committee’s rulings against Raam and the Joint List, finding that the disqualification did not meet the legal criteria. The Court also ruled by a vote of 7 to 2 that Cassif must be allowed to run again.^【38】

Following the Supreme Court’s warning, Abu Shehadeh withdrew his candidacy. Balad stated that the decision does not mark the end of the political struggle and that Abu Shehadeh will continue to lead the party.^【37】 The party emphasized that a disqualification imposed by court ruling, rather than voluntary withdrawal, would set a precedent for excluding Palestinian candidates and would have “serious consequences for the country’s political and parliamentary life.”^【39】

Abu Shehadeh said of his withdrawal, “I had no other option.” He argued that the attempt to bar Palestinian candidates was aimed at keeping Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir in power, stating, “Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir know that if the Arab-Palestinian community participates in the next election, it will be the highest wall preventing their return to power.” Abu Shehadeh noted that only two of the 38 lists represent the Arab-Palestinian minority and said, “They are trying to disqualify two lists.”^【40】

Abu Shehadeh stated that the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the initial rulings did not validate them, saying: “What happened yesterday was a historic catastrophe for democracy or the narrow limits of democracy in the State of Israel. I was disqualified because I think differently, because I have a different narrative about history, the present, and the future of the place we live in.”^【40】

Adalah, in its statement on the court’s decision, said: “The court has effectively decided to remove a Palestinian leader, an Israeli citizen, from the Knesset.” It warned that the court’s clear intention to disqualify Abu Shehadeh would create a dangerous legal precedent with destructive consequences. The organization described Abu Shehadeh’s withdrawal as “a severe blow to the right of Palestinian citizens to be represented and elected.” Cassif, meanwhile, described the court proceedings as “a political decision rather than a judicial one.”^{【37】 【30】}

Attempts to exclude Arab candidates and lists from elections have occurred in previous elections. Adalah has documented challenges against Arab candidates or lists in the 2003, 2013, 2015, 2020, and 2022 elections. The Supreme Court has repeatedly overturned the Central Elections Committee’s decisions in this regard. Cassif’s previous disqualification from an election was also overturned by the Supreme Court in 2019.^【31】

Benny Gantz, leader of the Blue and White Party, announced on 19 October 2026, eight days before the election, that he was withdrawing from the race. In his statement, Gantz said: “I will not run in the upcoming elections. I will continue to fight for unity. This is the only solution to protect Israel from all threats we face, inside and outside, and prevent a new catastrophe.”^【41】

Because the withdrawal was announced late, Blue and White will remain on the ballot, and votes cast for the party will be disqualified.

The campaign agenda has been dominated by accountability for the 7 October attacks, military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews, judicial reform, the economy, the future of the West Bank and Gaza, security issues including Iran policy, and U.S.-Israel relations.

Military exemptions granted to tens of thousands of yeshiva students have become a central campaign issue. Most opposition parties, along with Ofer Winter and Yoaz Hendel, demand mandatory military service for all, while Haredi parties reject any imposition of sanctions or quotas.^【9】 Shas and United Torah Judaism have demanded a law guaranteeing exemptions for yeshiva students, while reservists and other segments argue that the military burden is unequally distributed.^【13】 Lapid accused the government in January 2026 of “transferring billions to corrupt individuals and draft dodgers.”^【30】

The United States and Israel launched a joint attack against Iran on 28 February 2026. In June 2026, U.S. President Trump’s announcement that Iran and Israel had agreed to halt mutual attacks, followed by Netanyahu’s acceptance of the decision, drew public backlash in Israel. According to the Israel Democracy Institute, 65–70% of Jewish Israelis believe that halting the war does not serve Israel’s national security interests.^【42】

Opposition leaders have criticized Netanyahu for being inadequate on Iran. Eisenkot stated he does not view regime change in Iran as a realistic goal but accused Netanyahu of failing to take sufficient steps to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program. At a Yashar launch event, Eisenkot said: “Ultimately, this must end with the destruction or dismantling of Iran’s nuclear program; we have not yet achieved this goal, despite having 440 kg of highly enriched uranium in Iran that could be rapidly converted into several nuclear devices.”

Lapid, in a speech at the Atlantic Council, said: “What Israel or its alliance must do is bomb all energy facilities, starting with the Hark Island, to ensure the collapse of Iran’s economy. The only thing that can topple the regime is this.”^【42】

Bennett labeled Qatar a “hostile state” and Turkey a “new Iran,” telling his supporters: “We will build an alliance of moderate forces against Islamist powers in the region—against Iran, Qatar, Turkey, and all radical forces. We will take proactive steps to shape the region.”^【43】 After Netanyahu shared a video from Tel Nof Air Base warning that Israel’s enemies might attack before the election, opposition leaders accused him of “political fearmongering.” Lapid criticized Netanyahu for using the military and military bases as “props” in campaign videos.^【43】

Eisenkot, speaking near Gaza, pledged that if he becomes Prime Minister, he will end Hamas’s governance within 18 months, either through the framework of U.S. President Trump or through military operations.^【44】 Eisenkot also criticized Netanyahu for yielding to U.S. pressure to halt operations in Beirut and argued that the military must be able to attack Hezbollah anywhere in Lebanon.^【45】

None of the leading parties support the establishment of a Palestinian state in the near future. Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism advocate declaring sovereignty over the West Bank, while center-left parties oppose annexation and call for measures against settler violence.^【9】

Nine days before the election, on 18 October 2026, Netanyahu unveiled a new national security doctrine titled “Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s Security Doctrine”. The three-page document, prepared with the support of the National Security Council and published on the Israeli government’s website, outlines 10 principles.^【46】

In the introduction, Netanyahu claims that military operations stretching from Gaza and Lebanon to Yemen and Iran have eliminated an imminent nuclear existential threat and dismantled the Iranian-led network surrounding Israel. The doctrine prioritizes preventive strikes over containment and defense, advocates preemptive attacks against emerging threats, and, if deemed necessary, proposes the creation of buffer zones along Israel’s borders; however, it does not specify where these zones would be established.^【47】

Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the Houthis in Yemen are identified as primary threats; precision-guided missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, cyberattacks, and efforts to isolate Israel internationally are also listed as threats. The doctrine further calls for maintaining military superiority, strengthening domestic arms production, investing in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and space capabilities, encouraging occupation of territories Netanyahu calls “Israel’s Land”, and expanding regional alliances.^【47】

During the doctrine’s unveiling, Netanyahu presented maps illustrating regional alliances. A map bearing the logo of the German Friedrich Ebert Foundation grouped Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Pakistan under the heading “Sunni Diamond Alliance” and Iran and its allies under “Axis of Resistance”; it showed Israel and the United Arab Emirates as a separate group.^【47】 The map, published by Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in May 2026, labels the Israel-UAE alignment as the “Hexagon Alliance” and includes Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces and the regions controlled by Khalifa Haftar’s Libyan National Army within this alignment.^【48】

In his presentation, Netanyahu warned of a possible change in U.S. leadership, stating, “Within two years [in the U.S.], a president extremely hostile to Israel could come to power,” and argued that Israel must “expand its alliance network.”^【49】

Opposition leaders sharply criticized the doctrine. Yair Lapid labeled the document “superficial” and “bizarre,” saying it looked “as if it had been written by a free version of an AI chatbot.” Lapid also criticized Netanyahu for refusing to establish a formal commission of inquiry into 7 October and for his performance in expanding normalization agreements with Arab countries.

Gadi Eisenkot described the document as “pages filled with slogans,” accusing Netanyahu of leaving a “strategic vacuum” in Israel’s security policy. Eisenkot asserted that Hamas has preserved its armed capabilities in Gaza and Hezbollah has rebuilt its capabilities in Lebanon; he pledged that a government led by the opposition would draft and approve a formal national security strategy within 150 days of taking office.^【47】

On 1 October 2026, in an interview with TIME magazine, U.S. President Donald Trump responded to the question of whether he supports Netanyahu in the Israeli elections with: “I can say this: I am no longer involved in politics; I can only say we are popular.” When pressed again, Trump said: “No, my priority is to help Israel defend itself.” Asked what he would do if Eisenkot won the election, Trump replied: “I haven’t heard anything bad about him.” He added: “People have written him off many times, just as they have written me off many times. If I were you, I wouldn’t take Bibi lightly.”^【50】

When asked whether he planned to intervene in the Israeli elections, Trump replied: “They would like me to. Yes, they would like me to.” When asked whether he trusted Netanyahu, he said: “Frankly, I don’t trust anyone.” ^【51】

On 18 October 2026, Trump posted on his social media account under the title “To the Great People of Israel”, publicly endorsing Netanyahu in the election. Trump claimed that Netanyahu is a “great warrior” and that the U.S. is a “great peace partner” in the fight against Iran, asserting that Iran has been systematically destroyed militarily and financially, and added: “And if they don’t change course quickly, we will finish the job soon.”^【52】

Trump praised Netanyahu for “standing strong,” “succeeding,” and “growing stronger” despite strong opposition, stating: “This is the kind of partnership America seeks from Israel.” He wrote: “Please allow this letter to represent my full and unqualified support for Bibi Netanyahu in his race to be re-elected as Prime Minister. Bibi Netanyahu will never let you down.”^【53】

In the same post, Trump stated: “If Israel has the wrong leader, which is anyone other than Bibi, America will have to do this job itself, and I am not willing to do that.” He added: “Bibi Netanyahu has become Strong, Brave, and Brilliant despite massive opposition from within Israel and beyond.”^【54】 In a brief phone interview with Axios, when asked whether he could work with any Israeli leader other than Netanyahu, Trump replied: “Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. Who wants to take the risk?”^【55】

Netanyahu, in a social media post, said: “Thank you, President Trump, for your great support and partnership. Together, we will complete the mission.”^【53】 In a video he released, Netanyahu said: “Your extraordinary support has honored and humbled me. Never has Israel had a greater friend in the White House.” He also appealed to American voters: “If you are concerned about today’s gas prices, think about what will happen if Iran acquires nuclear weapons; this is something Donald Trump and I will never allow.”^【56】

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Netanyahu on social media of wanting to restart attacks against Iran “to avoid going to jail.” Araghchi said: “Last time you said you wanted to ‘finish the job,’ Iran became stronger. Do you want to try your luck again? Go ahead. But be careful; we also have unfinished business.” He added: “Netanyahu is dragging America into a new war to avoid going to jail.”^【57】

U.S. Vice President JD Vance, in an interview with journalist Mark Halperin on 19 October, said of Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu: “The President has given the most effective support in U.S. or international political history.” Emphasizing focus on the U.S. midterm elections on 3 November, Vance said: “I support American candidates, and that is where my focus lies. Therefore, I am not intervening in the Israeli elections.” ^【58】

In June 2026, Vance criticized certain figures in the Israeli government for opposing Trump’s efforts to end the war with Iran; in July of the same year, he claimed that certain elements in the Israeli government were trying to influence U.S. public opinion to sabotage negotiations.^【59】

Eight days before the election, on 19 October, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel and met with Netanyahu at Ovda Air Base. Hegseth also met with U.S. military personnel and announced on his social media account that he had visited U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) forces.^【60】 Netanyahu’s spokesperson, Doron Spielman, stated that the two discussed “regional threats” and U.S.-Israel cooperation in offense and defense against these threats.

In a statement released by his office, Netanyahu noted that he had met with Trump on 18 October, saying: “We are determined to complete the elimination of the Iranian regime. I have discussed this with Trump on many occasions, including the day before.” White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly reiterated that Iran is in “terrible shape” and affirmed that the U.S. “will not attack Iran before the midterm elections.”^【61】