Elections

Ben Gvir blasts Netanyahu over ‘cynical’ unity talks

Itamar Ben Gvir accuses Netanyahu and Smotrich of using a staged unity push to pressure Moshe Feiglin into lowering his demands for an electoral bloc.

A disaster for Israel:

Netanyahu warns of splintering parties on the right

Prime Minister Netanyahu urges right-wing voters not to support parties failing to pass the electoral threshold: 'You are wasting your vote. It guarantees the rise of the left, which would be a disaster for Israel.'

Gerrer Rebbe:

Goldknopf approved to continue as MK

Yitzhak Goldknopf receives Gerrer Rebbe's blessing to serve as Hasidic representative in next Knesset, 'We must learn from what happened and join efforts with all representatives of UTJ to correct situation.'

New poll shakes up race as Netanyahu bloc falls further behind

A new poll puts Gadi Eisenkot ahead of Likud, while the anti-Netanyahu bloc leads the right by six seats - and a new political contender could widen the gap.

Unidentified donors are flying Israeli voters home to vote

Is this a bad or a good thing? And who is behind the initiative? Some are against the idea of flying in to vote and leaving again, some are afraid there is only one type of voter being helped to fly in to vote.

The primaries' effect? New seat projection

Two polls published after the primaries place the Likud in first place with 31-32 seats, and Eisenkot’s party in second place with 24.

New Haredi party could shake up Shas and UTJ

A haredi politician met with senior rabbis opposed to IDF conscription, as part of talks to establish a new party aimed at restoring the deferment for yeshiva students.

The next Justice Minister?

MK Rothman reveals his demands for the next government

MK Simcha Rothman tells Arutz Sheva he wants to continue judicial reform, overhaul the attorney general's powers and help shape the next right-wing government.

MK Simcha Rothman:

'Reserve duty burden must be shared by more people'

Religious Zionism MK says gradual haredi enlistment could ease burden on reservists and enable more soldiers to return to their families, calls for 61-seat right-wing majority that is loyal to the national camp.

Ra’am chairman meets with former MK Segalovitz

Ra’am chairman meets with former MK Segalovitz, and the two agreed to continue discussions on a joint run. Otzma Yehudit: 'A fire sale-with the backing of the Left.'

Campaign to fly Israelis home to vote sparks backlash

Journalist Kalman Liebskind blasts efforts to fly Israelis home to vote, arguing that those who no longer live in Israel should not determine the country's future.

Maariv poll: Deadlock holds as coalition stuck at 49 seats

New Maariv poll shows little movement in electoral map, with coalition remaining at 49 seats while the opposition maintains potential path to 61-seat majority.

Survey

70% of Israelis concerned over election integrity

The "Israeli Voice Index" found that a majority of Israelis are concerned about the integrity of future elections and believe a Palestinian uprising in Judea and Samaria is a likely scenario.

Rabbi Zarbib turns down Religious Zionist Party offer

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich offers Rabbi Avraham Zarbib the secured second spot on the Religious Zionist Party’s list and even considers appointing him as a minister, but Rabbi Zarbib turns down the offer.

Ta'al;

Another step toward unification of the Arab parties

The Ta’al party, headed by MK Ahmad Tibi, announces it is joining efforts to establish a joint list with Hadash and Balad ahead of the Knesset elections, while leaving open the possibility of Ra’am joining at a later stage.

Ben Gvir discloses:

Barghouti urged Arab parties to unite against prison reforms

Ben Gvir says the terrorist sent a message through his attorneys to the Arab parties, urging them to unite in order to bring about the cancellation of the prison reform.

Religious Zionism launches primaries

170 members of the Religious Zionism Party's central committee will decide today among ten candidates seeking to secure a place on the party's Knesset slate.

Poll: Eisenkot's Yashar! widens lead over Likud

New Maariv poll gives Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar! party 23 seats to Likud's 20, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition falls well short of Knesset majority.

Eisenkot gets private security amid growing threats

Yashar! party chairman Gadi Eisenkot to receive private security detail at campaign events due to allegedly escalating incitement against him.

PM's Tisha B'Av message:

'Baseless hatred destroyed us, love rebuilt us'

In a Tisha B'Av address, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to pursue a broad national government and urged greater unity.

President Herzog:

Threats to election integrity - from within and without

President Isaac Herzog delivers a special statement this evening from his home in Jerusalem, addressing divisions among the public ahead of the upcoming elections.

UAL sets sights on seven Knesset seats

Hundreds of residents of Kafr Kanna gathered on Saturday for the launch of the United Arab List's election campaign, with the party declaring it intended to be a major coalition partner.

Most Israelis have already decided how they will vote

The JPPI Israeli Society Index indicates the strengthening of the right and that most Israelis are certain of who they will vote for.

Political shake-up

New party clears threshold in latest poll

A new Maariv poll shows Yoaz Hendel and Chili Tropper's party entering the Knesset with four seats, while Likud and Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar! are tied.

Yair Golan:

'We need 90% voter turnout in the Arab sector'

Yair Golan calls on Arab voters to flood the polls in the upcoming elections and drive political change.

Mansour Abbas:

The Arab vote will bring down the government

MK Mansour Abbas, chairman of the Ra'am party, sets sights on boosting Arab voter turnout in the next elections, in an effort to enable the formation of a coalition led by the change bloc.

Coalition pushes to set elections for Oct. 27

The coalition is seeking to advance the dissolution of the Knesset within five days and hold the elections toward the end of October.

Hilli Tropper: Government investing too much in Judea and Samaria

Hilli Tropper explains why he left Blue and White party, says he is open to additional alliances but wants 'Zionist parties only' in next coalition.

Report:

These are the MKs Netanyahu wants to remove from the Likud

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aims to improve Likud's image, by removing four ministers and an MK, Channel 12 News says. Likud: Fake news.

Report: MK Dan Illouz leaving Likud

MK Dan Illouz expected to announce that he won't run in Likud primaries, Channel 12 News report claims.

New poll: Yashar! party outpaces Likud

For the first time, Maariv poll shows 'Yashar!' party with more support than the Likud.

Mansour Abbas:

'Ra'am needs 7 seats to secure governmental change'

Mansour Abbas said his party aims to win seven Knesset seats in the next elections, arguing that such a result would make Ra'am the decisive force in the formation of a 'government of change.'

Edelstein: We will not provide anyone with a majority

MK Yuli Edelstein, who recently announced that he will not run with the Likud party again, says he will not resign Knesset.

Rabbis weigh new party

Rabbi Benny Kalmanson said he and other Zionist rabbis are exploring a new right-wing party, citing disappointment with the Religious Zionist Party.

Smotrich looks to war-era figure ahead of election

Bezalel Smotrich reportedly offered Rabbi Avi Zarbiv, an IDF reservist, rabbinical court judge, and Gaza war figure, the second spot on his party's list.

Poll:

Close race at the top, opposition supporters more likely to vote

Maariv poll puts Likud in the lead with 21, closely followed by Yashar and Together. 80% of those who support opposition parties plan to vote, while only 72% of coalition supporters do.

MK Bismuth sends unusual letter to Shin Bet Director

Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman sends message to Shin Bet Director asking for a discussion on election interference.

Eisenkot launches campaign

'I will be the Prime Minister of all Israelis'

At the launch event for his campaign for prime minister, Gadi Eisenkot declared that he would work to unite Israeli society, establish a broad-based government, and strengthen Israel's national security.

Hagay Lober:

'We will not allow a government of half the nation'

Hagay Lober, father of a fallen soldier, announced a new party and urged Netanyahu and Eisenkot to form a unity government after October 7.

Ayelet Shaked:

I will return to politics only in a right-wing party

Former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked rules out joining 'Together' party led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid.

Likud gains as Bennett's 'Together' continues decline

New Maariv poll shows Likud rising, coalition gaining strength, as 'Together' party led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid continues decline.

No arrests of deserters on election day

The chairman of the Central Elections Committee said, following discussions with the Attorney General and the police commissioner, that on Election Day there will be no enforcement operations against deserters.

Voter turnout will determine the outcome of the elections

Even when voters do not change their political preference at all, simply whether they show up at the polls or stay home is what decides the election.

Arab party list takes aim at competitor

Leader of Arab 'Hadash' party says United Arab List coordinating actions with Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Liberman.

Trump says he'll probably support Netanyahu in November elections

In interview with Israel's Kan News, US President Donald Trump says he is likely to support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bid for re-election, stressing the two have a good relationship.

Pitfall of Expectations:

Poll and analysis: The Right climbs onto the fence

A new Knesset mandates poll shows the right-wing bloc falling to 58 seats. Direct Polls CEO Tzuriel Sharon links the decline to disappointment among right-wing voters over the US-Iran agreement and Operation Roaring Lion.

Likud hits lowest poll result since 2025

New poll shows Likud dropping three seats, as coalition parties' total seats remain stable.

Likud clarifies: Netanyahu will run in the coming elections

Likud party responds to US President Donald Trump's statement, says Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to run in the next elections. 'With G-d's help, he will win.'

Likud estimates: Netanyahu to offer spots to Smotrich, Ben Gvir

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu working to avoid loss of right-wing votes, convince Religious Zionist and Otzma Yehudit parties to run together.

Arab parties face off ahead of elections

MK Mansour Abbas accuses Hadash and Balad party leaders of smear campaign against him, says they broke commitments in talks for joint list.

Chili Tropper begins gathering signatures to register party

One month after announcing his departure from the Blue and White party, MK Chili Tropper has begun taking practical steps.

From prosecution to politics:

Battalion commander joins Avigdor Liberman

Lt. Col. (res.) Shmuel Barzilai, who served hundreds of days of reserve duty during the war and in a senior position in the Jerusalem District AG's office, joins Avigdor Liberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party.

Urgent appeal to Shin Bet chief:

MK warns of foreign meddling in elections

MK Amit Halevi urges Shin Bet chief to step up efforts to prevent foreign interference in Israeli elections.

Elkin insists: No chance of passing Draft Law

Minister Ze'ev Elkin says no chance of passing Draft Law before Knesset dissolves - but does not believe center-left can work with haredi parties.

Ayoub Kara to return to Likud?

Former minister Ayoub Kara offered to rejoin Likud, but has not yet decided whether to return to politics.

Poll: Bennett-Lapid alliance continues to lose support

New poll shows Likud leading by narrow margin, center-left unable to form coalition without support.

Shas' flagship program makes a comeback - in time for elections

Finance Ministry greenlights renewal of food voucher program, to the tune of half a billion NIS.

Bill to dissolve Knesset to be brought for first reading

Coalition chairman Ofir Katz says bill to dissolve 25th Knesset to be brought for vote on Monday.

Democrats chairman won't rule out coalition with haredim

MK Yair Golan, head of Israel's 'Democrats' party, says he is willing to sit with haredim in government, insists there is no way to enlist thousands of haredim immediately.

MK Galit Distel to leave politics

Likud MK Galit Distel-Atbaryan addressed the Knesset and said that she would be departing politics.