Israel parliamentary elections: 38 parties register for October vote

Thirty-eight political parties have officially submitted their candidate lists for the Israeli parliamentary election scheduled for October 27, 2026. The upcoming vote for the 26th Knesset is viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is seeking a seventh term with the Likud party.

The election landscape is characterized by significant fragmentation, particularly within the right-wing bloc. While Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich unified his Religious Zionism party with Moshe Feiglin’s Zehut, Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has opted to run independently with Otzma Yehudit. Additionally, former Brigadier General Ofer Winter has submitted a separate list, posing a potential risk of splitting right-wing votes.

On the opposition side, former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot is emerging as a major challenger with his party, Yashar, which currently polls near or ahead of the Likud. Other notable contenders include Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid leading the B’Yachad list, as well as Benny Gantz and Avigdor Lieberman running independently. The outcome may hinge on which smaller parties can surpass the 3.25 percent electoral threshold to secure seats in the Knesset.