Israelis Vote for Knesset in 2026 Election
Parties from the far right to the center compete for seats, with small lists facing a 3.25% threshold that could shift the balance of power.
By James Brooks ·
Israelis cast ballots on October 27, 2026, to elect the next Knesset.
The election pits a sitting right-wing coalition against a fragmented opposition bloc, with several smaller lists attempting to clear a 3.25% electoral threshold to win seats.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leads the incumbent Likud party, which advocates for national security, Jewish nationalism, and opposition to Palestinian statehood. Likud heads the right-wing bloc, which also includes Otzma Yehudit, the Religious Zionist Party-Zehut, Shas, and United Torah Judaism.
Itamar Ben-Gvir leads Otzma Yehudit, a far-right list supporting expanded settlements and tougher law enforcement. Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin lead Religious Zionist Party-Zehut, which seeks to apply Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank and advance judicial reform. The ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism parties prioritize protecting religious institutions and maintaining exemptions from IDF service for yeshiva students.
The opposition features centrist and left-leaning lists seeking to replace Netanyahu. Gadi Eisenkot leads Yashar, focusing on government reform and security. Naftali Bennett leads B'Yachad, emphasizing economic growth and enlisting haredi men into the army. Yair Golan leads The Democrats, a left-wing Zionist party stressing liberal democracy and civil rights.
Avigdor Liberman leads Yisrael Beytenu, a right-wing secular nationalist party in the opposition. It focuses on national security, a tougher stance against Hamas, and curbing the influence of religious parties. Arab Israeli politics is represented by the Joint List, which emphasizes civil rights and Palestinian national rights, and Ra'am, led by Mansour Abbas, which focuses on crime, funding, and living conditions in Arab communities.
Three smaller parties fight to clear the 3.25% threshold. Ofer Winter leads the People of Israel, a right-wing list that backs Netanyahu but demands haredi enlistment and supports voluntary emigration from Gaza. Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha lead the Reservists-Economic Party, which pairs a security agenda with economic reform and requires a universal conscription law before joining a government. Moti Leitner leads the Haredi Public Party, which supports wider haredi service and core-curriculum studies in math and English.
Recent polls place the People of Israel and the Reservists-Economic Party near the threshold, with their standing varying between surveys. Their results will determine the final seat distribution among the blocs.
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