Israel’s elections 2026 explained in maps and charts | Israel Election 2026 News
Israelis will head to the polls on October 27 to elect members of the 26th Knesset, marking the first general election since the recent conflict in Gaza and ongoing tensions in Lebanon and Iran.
Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, is seeking another term despite facing corruption charges in court. His Likud party, in coalition with far-right groups, is engaged in a tight competition against an opposition bloc led by several major Jewish parties. Current indications show that neither side is likely to secure an outright majority in the Knesset, which consists of 120 seats.
Approximately 7.3 million people aged 18 and older are eligible to vote, as reported by Israel’s Central Elections Committee. Polling stations will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and anyone in line at closing time will still be able to cast a ballot. Election Day is designated as a national holiday.
To enter parliament, any party must surpass an electoral threshold of 3.25 percent. The Knesset convenes for a four-year term, and there are no term limits imposed on the prime minister.
Voting Procedures
In Israel, voters cast their ballots for political parties rather than individual candidates. Achieving a majority requires 61 seats, although no party has ever accomplished this outright. After the election, parties have 28 days, extendable by 14, to form a coalition capable of achieving the majority. If no coalition can be formed, another election will be held.
Seats in the Knesset are distributed proportionately based on the national vote. A party receiving 30 percent of the votes would generally be allocated roughly 30 percent of the seats. Votes for parties failing to meet the 3.25 percent threshold are discarded, often prompting smaller parties to merge ahead of elections.
Voting Eligibility
The upcoming election will see participation from about 7.3 million eligible Israeli citizens. However, this number does not account for all adults living under the government’s jurisdiction. Approximately three million Palestinians residing in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem do not have the right to vote in the government that controls their circumstances.
Jewish Israelis and approximately 1.2 million Palestinian citizens of Israel are eligible to vote, along with adult settlers living in the occupied territories. Those in East Jerusalem, most of whom hold Israeli residency rather than citizenship, can vote in local elections but not for the Knesset.
This dynamic results in a striking disparity in the West Bank, where an Israeli settler can vote while nearby Palestinian families under the same military authority cannot.
Most Israelis living abroad are also ineligible to vote due to the lack of a general absentee ballot. However, diplomats and state representatives are permitted to vote at Israeli missions on October 20.
Key Election Issues
This election cycle encompasses several pressing domestic and international matters, including:
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Security Failures: Nearly three years after a devastating attack on October 7, 2023, the government has not established a state commission of inquiry into the incident, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and the capture of approximately 250 individuals by Hamas. Israel subsequently launched significant military action in Gaza, leading to extensive casualties and destruction.
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Ultra-Orthodox Draft Exemptions: Supporters of military draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews argue they safeguard full-time religious study, while critics claim they unfairly shift military responsibilities onto other citizens.
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Judicial Reform: Netanyahu’s attempts to limit the powers of the Supreme Court sparked mass protests prior to the conflict in Gaza. Opponents view these efforts as a threat to democracy, while proponents assert the court has exceeded its authority.
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War and Security: Citizens are seeking stability amidst concerns regarding negotiations in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. Netanyahu has pledged “total victory,” yet Hamas and Hezbollah remain active.
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Cost of Living: Rising prices and stagnating wages are further strained by increasing defense spending, which has doubled since 2023.
Outgoing Government
As the Knesset dissolved in July, Netanyahu’s coalition held 60 of the 120 seats. This alliance included Likud with 32 seats, Shas with 11, Religious Zionism with seven, Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit with six, and New Hope with four. Although Shas departed from the government in July 2025, it remained a part of the coalition, and New Hope is set to merge with Likud for this election.
The opposition controlled 59 seats, featuring Yesh Atid with 24, Blue and White with eight, United Torah Judaism with seven, Yisrael Beiteinu with six, and others.
Main Contenders
Netanyahu continues his campaign while facing corruption charges. He faces competition from an opposition bloc composed of major Jewish-led parties, whose leaders have publicly committed to refrain from attacking one another during the campaign and collaborate in government formation post-election.
Gadi Eisenkot, a former army chief and leader of the new Yashar party, is considered a key contender against Netanyahu, with polls suggesting a near tie between the two factions.
The opposition alliance also comprises former Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu, and Yair Golan’s Democrats. Despite an earlier vote to disqualify Arab-majority parties from the elections, the Supreme Court overturned the bans, affirming the right of these parties to participate.
Election Context
The upcoming vote will be Israel’s sixth national election since 2019. It is also notable for being the first to conclude a full legislative term in 38 years. The instability in Israeli politics began in April 2019 with a tie between Netanyahu’s Likud and Benny Gantz’s Blue and White parties, leading to repeated elections without a conclusive outcome.
Following Netanyahu’s brief coalition with Gantz in early 2020 and subsequent elections, he returned to power in November 2022. Current polling indicates that neither side appears to be on course to secure a majority in the Knesset.
Israel has had 14 prime ministers since its establishment in 1948. Benjamin Netanyahu holds the record as the longest-serving, with a tenure spanning 19 years across three different terms. Regardless of the election outcome, he will remain as caretaker prime minister until a new government is installed.
