The election, held on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, comes as voters remain divided over the government’s handling of national security, the wars involving Israel and its regional adversaries, and calls for accountability over the failures that preceded the October 7 attack.
The contest pits Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, against a broad opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, whose centrist political platform has attracted voters seeking a change of government.
The final opinion polls published before voting showed the two camps running closely, setting the stage for a potentially difficult coalition-building process in a country where no single party is expected to secure an outright parliamentary majority.
Security and Accountability Dominate Campaign
Netanyahu has centred his campaign on national security, highlighting his relationship with US President Donald Trump and arguing that his experience makes him best placed to protect Israel.
Since the October 7 attack, Israel has fought wars on multiple fronts, including in Gaza and Lebanon, and carried out strikes against Iran with US assistance. The conflicts have left security, military preparedness and the government’s response to the 2023 attack at the forefront of public debate.
One of the main criticisms against Netanyahu is his refusal to establish an independent state commission of inquiry into the security failures surrounding the October 7 attack, which was the deadliest day in Israel’s history.
Eisenkot has pledged to establish such an inquiry if he leads the next government. He has also called for an end to exemptions from military service for ultra-Orthodox men, an issue that has generated tensions over the armed forces’ personnel needs and the government’s reliance on religious parties.
Netanyahu’s coalition includes far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties whose influence has grown during his latest term. The opposition has criticised the government’s policies on religious exemptions, settlement expansion and the handling of the war in Gaza.
Arab Parties Could Influence Government Formation
About 7.3 million Israelis are eligible to vote in the election, including hundreds of thousands of first-time voters. Polling stations are scheduled to close at 10 p.m. local time.
Israel uses a proportional representation system in which voters choose political parties rather than directly electing the prime minister. The 120-seat Knesset requires at least 61 lawmakers to support a government, making coalition negotiations essential.
Neither Netanyahu’s Likud party nor Eisenkot’s Yashar party is expected to win enough seats to govern alone. The outcome will therefore depend on the performance of smaller parties and their willingness to join or support a coalition.
Arab-led parties, representing a substantial minority of Israel’s population, could play a decisive role if the main political blocs fall short of a majority. However, several leading Jewish-led parties have ruled out or expressed reservations about partnering with them.
Final results may take time to emerge, while negotiations to form a government could last weeks or months. If the parties fail to reach an agreement, Israel could face another election.
The vote is being closely watched for its implications for Israel’s domestic politics, relations with the United States and international standing following years of regional conflict.
