Israelis are preparing to cast their votes on October 27, 2026, for all 120 seats of the 26th Knesset. Marking the nation’s first national election since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, the vote serves as a major referendum on long-serving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership, security credentials, and political legacy.
Key Highlights of the Election:
-
Voting Mechanism: Under Israel’s proportional representation system, citizens vote for party slates rather than individual candidates. Parties must clear a 3.25% threshold to enter Parliament.
-
The Magic Number (61 Seats): With no single party historically winning an absolute majority, forming a government requires assembling a coalition of at least 61 seats within a specified 28-day post-election window.
-
Major Contenders & Alliances:
-
Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud): Supported by traditional ultra-Orthodox allies (Shas and United Torah Judaism) and far-right factions.
-
Gadi Eisenkot (Yashar): Former military chief positioning himself as a security-focused, pragmatic alternative.
-
Naftali Bennett & Yair Lapid (Together): A centrist/right-wing alliance targeting national reconciliation and governance reforms.
-
Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu) & Yair Golan (The Democrats): Leading opposition and left-center fronts targeting military draft equality and administrative oversight.
-
