What changed
2026-08-14 04:39 UTC → 2026-08-23 13:21 UTC ·
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In late June, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outlined plans for a broad national-unity coalition that would exclude left-wing and Arab parties while retaining the ultra-Orthodox bloc. A July blueprint by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and former security chief Gadi Eisenkot proposed a Zionist-majority bloc of 63-64 seats, conditional on a universal draft law for all citizens. A Channel 12 poll released in late July showed Eisenkot’s new Yashar party projected to win 23 Knesset seats, surpassing Likud’s 22. Respondents rated Eisenkot as the most suitable prime ministerial candidate at 43%, compared to 34% for Netanyahu. Eisenkot’s campaign focuses on a ten-point platform, including a commission of inquiry into the October 7 Hamas attack, a new security doctrine, and a universal national service law. As the October 27 election approaches, concerns regarding electoral integrity and political stability have increased. A poll by the intensified. An Israel Democracy Institute poll indicates that approximately 70% of Jewish Israelis are concerned about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process. President Isaac Herzog has warned of potential political interference and the threat of violence, urging leaders to avoid “crossing red lines.” Analysts suggest the election could be decided by a narrow margin of as few as 10,000 votes. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has moved to consolidate is actively consolidating power within the Likud party by securing more controlled seats on the Knesset candidate list. This includes the selection of high-tech entrepreneur Oren Dubrowsky and placing allies such as Defense Minister Israel Katz, Gideon Sa'ar, and Haim Katz in prominent positions. These maneuvers increase Netanyahu’s control over more than one-third of the Likud list, potentially threatening the re-election of current Knesset members ahead of the August 17 primary elections. Amidst these developments, In opposition, Gadi Eisenkot has launched a new political party named ‘Geradeaus’ (Straight Ahead). Eisenkot, whose Yashar party previously showed strong polling numbers, has pledged that his first action as head of government would be to establish a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 Hamas attacks. Regarding regional policy, potential successors to Netanyahu, including Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett, have signaled opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state. Eisenkot stated, “I have never spoken about a Palestinian state,” while Bennett expressed a refusal to allow statehood even if it facilitates normalization with Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, efforts to unite major Palestinian political parties, including Ta'al, Hadash, and Balad, have stalled due to disputes over candidate ordering.