Israel Election 2026: The parties, blocs and battles that will shape Israel's future - explainer

Israel’s Oct. 27 election will bring a changed political landscape to the ballot box. It will be the country’s first national vote since the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023, and security concerns now dominate issues that once featured more prominently.

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mark the direction in which Israel’s democracy is heading

The Israel Defense Forces’ severe manpower crisis after three years of war, legislation on ultra-Orthodox conscription and demands for a state commission of inquiry into the government’s failures surrounding the attack are central campaign questions. The establishment of a Palestinian state, traditionally a major election issue, has moved further into the background.

Benjamin Netanyahu, who has served as prime minister for a total of 19 years, is leading Likud as the party tries to retain power. Political expert Ofer Kenig said the election would “mark the direction in which Israel’s democracy is heading.” He described the outgoing coalition as “full Right,” a configuration he said had produced stark policy changes.

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full Right

Kenig also pointed to domestic concerns such as the rising cost of living and the uncertain future of parties near the electoral threshold. A possible new grouping, known as the “third bloc,” could offer an alternative to the established right-wing parties. A renewed Joint List of Arab parties could weaken Netanyahu’s bloc, but might also make it harder for the opposition to form a government.

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Most Israelis do want some kind of broad government, without the extremists. Without the haredim and without the Arabs, for that matter

Netanyahu’s call for a “broad national government” may reflect pressure on Likud as its poll numbers decline, Kenig said. He argued that the prime minister’s strategy appeared to be shifting from trying to win outright to “just trying not to lose.”

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just trying not to lose