On October 27, 2026, Israelis will head to the polls to elect a new Knesset, Israel's parliament. These elections come after three years of war, significant political divisions, economic challenges, and ongoing debates about the country's security and future.
For many people outside Israel, understanding Israeli politics can be challenging. Unlike the United States, where two major political parties dominate national elections, Israel has a parliamentary system in which numerous parties represent different political, religious, social, and economic perspectives.
Some parties emphasize national security and territorial sovereignty, while others focus on economic policy, democratic institutions, religious interests, or the relationship between Jewish and Arab citizens. Understanding these differences is important for following the upcoming elections and the process of forming Israel's next government.
How Do Israeli Elections Work?
Israel is a parliamentary democracy in which citizens vote for political parties rather than directly electing a prime minister. The Knesset consists of 120 members, and elections are generally held every four years unless an earlier election is called.
Israel uses a system of proportional representation, meaning that the number of seats a party receives generally reflects its share of the national vote. To enter the Knesset, a party must receive at least 3.25 percent of the valid votes cast. Parties that fail to reach this threshold receive no seats, even if they attract tens of thousands of votes.
Because no single party has ever won an outright majority of 61 seats, Israeli governments have traditionally depended on coalitions formed by several parties. Following the elections, Israel's president consults with representatives of the elected parties and assigns a member of the Knesset the task of forming a government. This is generally the politician considered most capable of assembling a coalition that can command the confidence of the Knesset.
This means that the party receiving the most votes does not necessarily determine who becomes prime minister. The ability to negotiate agreements with other parties is often just as important as the election results themselves.
Who Are the Major Political Parties?
Israel's political landscape includes parties ranging from the left to the right, as well as religious parties, centrist movements, and parties representing different communities within Israeli society. The following is an overview of some of the principal parties and political alliances participating in the October 2026 elections, their leaders, and the positions they represent.
Likud - Benjamin Netanyahu
Likud is one of Israel's principal right-wing political parties and is led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The party emphasizes national security, a strong military, Jewish national identity, and free-market economic policies.
Likud opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state under current circumstances and supports maintaining Israeli security control in areas considered strategically important. It has also supported changes to the judicial system intended to give elected officials greater influence over judicial appointments and certain government decisions.
Netanyahu has served as prime minister for more years than any other Israeli leader and remains one of the central figures in the country's political landscape.
Yashar! (Straight) - Gadi Eisenkot
Yashar! is a centrist party led by Gadi Eisenkot, a former chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and former government minister.
The party emphasizes national security, government accountability, strengthening democratic institutions, and rebuilding public confidence in government. Eisenkot has advocated for broader participation in military service, reforms to education, measures to address the cost of living, and the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the failures surrounding October 7, 2023.
Yashar! presents itself as an alternative to Israel's traditional political divisions, with an emphasis on national unity and government reform.
Beyachad (Together) - Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid
Beyachad is a political alliance led by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, with former Prime Minister Yair Lapid in second place. The alliance was formed in 2026 through the combination of Bennett's political movement and Lapid's Yesh Atid party.
Bennett comes from Israel's national-religious and right-wing political traditions, while Lapid has generally represented the secular political center. Their alliance combines a strong emphasis on national security with policies supporting economic reform, improved education, and greater freedom in matters involving religion and state.
Beyachad also emphasizes government effectiveness, public trust, and cooperation among Israelis from different political and religious backgrounds.
Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) - Itamar Ben-Gvir
Otzma Yehudit is a far-right nationalist party led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is currently Israel's national security minister.
The party advocates stronger measures against terrorism, expanded Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, also known internationally as the West Bank, and a more assertive approach to internal security.
It supports strengthening Jewish national identity and has promoted policies involving stricter penalties for convicted terrorists, expanded civilian firearm ownership, and increased Israeli control over disputed territories.
The party's positions on security, territorial sovereignty, and relations between Jewish and Arab communities have generated significant political and public debate.
Religious Zionism–Zehut - Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin
This electoral alliance brings together the Religious Zionist Party, led by Bezalel Smotrich, and Zehut, led by Moshe Feiglin. Smotrich heads the joint electoral list, with Feiglin representing Zehut within the alliance.
The alliance emphasizes Jewish national identity, the importance of the Land of Israel, and support for Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria.
Both movements support extending Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria, although they differ on certain economic and religious questions. Religious Zionism emphasizes the role of Jewish religious values in government, while Zehut has also promoted free-market economic policies and individual liberties.
The alliance supports substantial changes to the judicial system and opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Shas - Aryeh Deri
Shas is an ultra-Orthodox Jewish political party primarily representing Sephardi and Mizrahi religious communities, whose historical roots lie in Spain, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Led by Aryeh Deri, the party emphasizes traditional Jewish religious values, support for religious education, social welfare programs, and assistance to lower-income families.
Shas seeks to preserve arrangements protecting full-time religious study and opposes compulsory military recruitment policies that would substantially change the traditional way of life within ultra-Orthodox communities.
The party has participated in several coalition governments and has frequently played an important role in negotiations over religious policy, education, and public funding.
United Torah Judaism - Ashkenazi Ultra-Orthodox Leadership
United Torah Judaism is an alliance of two Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox political factions, Degel HaTorah and Agudat Yisrael. Its leadership is shared among representatives of these factions and their respective rabbinical authorities.
The party focuses primarily on protecting the interests of the Haredi, or ultra-Orthodox, community. Its priorities include religious education, government support for religious institutions, preserving traditional religious practices, and maintaining arrangements that allow eligible yeshiva students to continue full-time religious study instead of military service.
United Torah Judaism generally approaches coalition negotiations according to the commitments potential governing partners are willing to make on religious and community-related issues.
Yisrael Beytenu (Israel Our Home) - Avigdor Liberman
Yisrael Beytenu is a secular nationalist party led by former defense and finance minister Avigdor Liberman.
The party emphasizes national security, economic reform, and a more limited role for religious institutions in government policy. It supports expanding military and national service obligations and has strongly opposed broad exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men.
The party has traditionally drawn support from Russian-speaking immigrants from the former Soviet Union, although its political platform addresses issues affecting Israeli society more broadly.
Yisrael Beytenu combines right-wing positions on security with more secular positions on religion and state.
The Democrats - Yair Golan
The Democrats is a center-left to left-wing political party led by former IDF deputy chief of staff Yair Golan.
Formed in 2024 through the merger of the Labor and Meretz political movements, the party emphasizes democratic institutions, civil rights, social equality, and strengthening public services.
It supports judicial independence, greater separation between religion and state, and protection of minority rights. The party also opposes extending Israeli sovereignty over Judea and Samaria and supports pursuing a diplomatic resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Ra'am (United Arab List) - Mansour Abbas
Ra'am is an Arab political party led by Mansour Abbas, with roots in the southern branch of the Islamic Movement in Israel.
The party focuses on issues affecting Israel's Arab citizens, including housing, infrastructure, education, economic development, and crime within Arab communities. It also supports the establishment of a Palestinian state, while placing considerable emphasis on practical issues affecting Arab citizens within Israel.
Ra'am has demonstrated a willingness to participate in governing coalitions with Jewish political parties. In 2021, it became the first independent Arab party to formally join an Israeli governing coalition when it participated in the government led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid.
Its approach emphasizes securing practical improvements for Arab communities through political participation.
The Joint List - Hadash, Ta'al, and Balad
The Joint List brings together several Arab-led political movements, including Hadash, Ta'al, and Balad.
These movements have different ideological backgrounds, ranging from Jewish-Arab socialist politics to Palestinian national identity and minority-rights advocacy.
Their shared priorities include improving conditions for Arab citizens, addressing discrimination, increasing investment in Arab communities, and promoting political equality.
The alliance also opposes Israeli control over the Palestinian territories and advocates changes to laws and policies that its members believe disadvantage Arab citizens. Its constituent parties differ in their approaches to national identity and political solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Other Parties Participating in the Elections
Several additional political movements are participating in the elections, including Amcha Yisrael and the Reservists-Economic Party.
The Reservists-Economic Party, led by Yoaz Hendel, emphasizes broader military service obligations, economic reforms, and the cost of living. It has also advocated for a government of national unity that would reduce dependence on ultra-Orthodox and Arab political parties.
Amcha Yisrael, led by retired military officer Ofer Winter, is a nationalist party seeking to attract voters who are dissatisfied with the existing political leadership, particularly within Israel's right-wing political camp. The party emphasizes national security, Jewish identity, and changes in political leadership.
These smaller parties illustrate how new political movements can emerge around specific issues or dissatisfaction with established parties. However, they must also reach the 3.25 percent electoral threshold to gain representation in the Knesset.
What Are the Major Issues Facing Israeli Voters?
While Israel's political parties differ on many subjects, several issues have become particularly important ahead of the October elections. These include national security, the consequences of the October 7 attacks, military service, the relationship between religion and state, the judiciary, economic challenges, and social equality.
National Security and the Consequences of October 7
The Hamas-led terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023, and the wars that followed have had a lasting effect on Israeli society. Security remains a central concern, including the threats posed by Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, and other armed groups operating in the region. Political parties differ over the appropriate military and diplomatic strategies, the future of Gaza, Israel's relationship with the Palestinian Authority, and the balance between military action and diplomatic agreements.
Another significant issue is accountability for the security and intelligence failures that preceded October 7. Opposition parties have called for a formal state commission of inquiry, while the government and opposition have disagreed over the proposed investigative process.
Military Service and the Ultra-Orthodox Community
Military service is mandatory for most Jewish Israeli citizens, as well as for certain other groups, although exemptions and different service arrangements exist.
For decades, many ultra-Orthodox men studying full-time in religious institutions have received exemptions or deferments from military service. The legal basis for these arrangements has been challenged repeatedly, and the Supreme Court has ruled that the government cannot continue exempting eligible ultra-Orthodox men without a valid legal framework.
The issue has become increasingly contentious following years of war, during which regular soldiers and reservists have carried an extended burden. Some parties advocate broader military recruitment and enforcement of existing obligations. Ultra-Orthodox parties generally seek to protect religious study arrangements and oppose compulsory recruitment measures that would substantially change their communities' way of life.
The debate concerns national security needs, equality in civic responsibilities, religious freedom, and the relationship between religious communities and the state.
Religion and State
Israel defines itself as both a Jewish and democratic state. However, political parties differ considerably over how Jewish identity should influence government policy. Religious parties generally support preserving or expanding the role of religious institutions in matters such as marriage, conversion, education, and public observance of Shabbat.
Secular and centrist parties often advocate greater individual freedom and reduced religious control over personal and civil matters. These disagreements affect everyday life in Israel and frequently influence negotiations between parties seeking to form a government.
The Judiciary and Democratic Institutions
The role of Israel's Supreme Court and the balance of authority between the judiciary, parliament, and government remain major political issues. Supporters of judicial reform argue that elected representatives should have greater authority over public policy and judicial appointments.
Opponents argue that weakening judicial independence could reduce important safeguards against government overreach and undermine the protection of individual and minority rights. The dispute has generated large public demonstrations and remains an important dividing line between political parties.
The Economy and Cost of Living
Israel faces significant economic pressures, including high housing costs, expensive consumer goods, and the financial consequences of prolonged military operations. The cost of living has become an important concern for Israeli families, particularly younger households seeking affordable housing and financial stability.
Parties differ over taxation, government spending, competition, social welfare, and the allocation of public funds. Economic policy is also connected to debates about employment, education, military service, and government support for different sectors of society.
Arab Citizens and Social Equality
Arab citizens make up approximately one-fifth of Israel's population and participate in national elections. Political parties differ over policies affecting Arab communities, including public investment, housing development, employment opportunities, education, and the response to organized crime.
Arab political parties have placed particular emphasis on these issues, while debates continue over their potential participation in future governing coalitions.
What Happens After Election Day?
Once the votes are counted and the final allocation of Knesset seats is determined, the process of forming a government begins. Israel's president consults with the political parties and selects a Knesset member to attempt to assemble a governing coalition. A candidate initially receives 28 days to form a government, with the possibility of a 14-day extension.
Coalition negotiations can involve agreements over ministerial appointments, government budgets, national security policies, religious matters, and other legislative priorities.
If the first candidate cannot form a government, the president may assign the task to another Knesset member. Additional parliamentary procedures may follow, and if no government can be formed, another election may ultimately be necessary.
Because coalition agreements determine which policies can realistically be implemented, the negotiations following election day are an essential part of understanding Israeli politics.
The October 27 elections will determine the composition of Israel's next Knesset. The process that follows will establish which parties are able to cooperate in forming the country's next government and what policies that government will seek to advance.
A Call to Prayer for Israel
As Israel approaches these important elections, we ask you to join us in praying for our nation. Pray that God will grant wisdom and discernment to the people of Israel as they cast their votes, and that those elected to lead will govern with integrity, humility, and a genuine concern for the well-being of all citizens.
Pray that political disagreements will not deepen the divisions within Israeli society, particularly after the difficult years our nation has endured. Above all, pray for God's protection over Israel, for unity among our people, and for His guidance over the decisions that will shape the future of our nation and the generations to come.