2026 Elections

Liberman lays out coalition red lines ahead of Israeli elections

Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Liberman sets coalition red lines, ruling out a minority government and demanding military or civilian service for all Israelis.

Miri Regev accuses

'El Al decided to try to take me down'

Transportation Minister Miri Regev claims that the El Al workers’ committee is working against her in the Likud primaries.

Trump on Israeli elections:

I should stay out, but may endorse someone

US President declines to endorse a candidate in Israel's upcoming elections, but leaves open possibility he could do so later.

Shas officials jump ship

Three members of Shas' Kiryat Gat slate defect to rival Ahi party, citing Shas' opposition to IDF enlistment for haredim not studying in yeshiva.

In a digital world. why do elections rely on paper ballots?

Shutting down the economy on Election Day costs the Israeli economy between two and three billion shekels. So why not save billions and vote from home? Prof. Orr Dunkelman explains why the traditional ballot box is still preferable.

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.

'This time we won't stop'

Coalition chairman's vow on judicial reform

Coalition chairman Ofir Katz declares that if Likud forms the next government, the judicial reform will return to the Knesset agenda.

Mansour Abbas makes surprise announcement

Ra'am chairman MK Mansour Abbas says upcoming elections will be his last, declares, 'The Palestinian state has already been established.'

'Decisive kingmaker'

Mansour Abbas sets election goal

Ra'am chairman Mansour Abbas declares that his party aims to be at the center of decision-making following the elections: "No one will dictate our role in politics."

Will United Torah Judaism split after the elections?

According to haredi analyst Yaakov Rivlin, United Torah Judaism is expected to break up into two independent factions following the elections and conduct separate coalition negotiations.

New poll:

Likud surges as coalition gains ground

A new Direct Polls survey projects 30 Knesset seats for Likud and 23 for Gadi Eisenkot’s slate. The governing coalition reaches 59 seats, while the center-left bloc stands at 50.

Netanyahu ordered to remove video after petition over minors

Election Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg ordered Netanyahu's video removed after a petition alleged it improperly featured children in a campaign.

Hadar Muchtar after Likud setback: 'This isn't the end'

Likud activist Hadar Muchtar thanks supporters after being denied exemption needed to compete in upcoming primaries.

Balad candidate: Negev is 60% of 'historic Palestine'

Fourth-ranked Balad candidate Hassan al-Nasasra prioritizes battle over land at the heart of his election message, accusing Israel of seeking to harm its Arab population.

Levin to Supreme Court justices: 'You'll simply become extinct'

Justice Minister Yariv Levin says two-thirds of Supreme Court could be replaced during the next government's term, says no need for judicial reform legislation.

Yair Golan: 'No doubt about Mansour Abbas' good intentions'

Democrats chairman praises the Ra'am leader MK Mansour Abbas, says it is 'clear' his party will receive more significant portfolios.

Ben Gvir: Netanyahu planning unity government with Eisenkot

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir slams Likud election slogan, warning government with Yashar! chair Gadi Eisenkot would 'bury the judicial reform,' grant victory to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.

Tropper opens door to Ben Gvir in 'Zionist' coalition

MK Hili Tropper says Israel needs a broad Zionist government that rises above political camps, adding that Itamar Ben Gvir could be part of it if he meets additional conditions.

Hadar Muchtar won't run in Likud primaries

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approves seniority waivers allowing four candidates to run in the Likud primaries, denies same exemption to Hadar Muchtar.

Likud’s late night move

Reserved spots for Sa'ar, Israel Katz and Haim Katz

Likud announces that its secretariat will be asked to approve guaranteed spots on its Knesset slate for Foreign Minister Sa'ar, Defense Minister Katz, and Central Committee chairman Haim Katz.

'Morally corrupt'

New Likud pick's anti-Trump posts come back to bite him

Oren Dobronsky apologized to Trump after past posts criticizing his Iran war policy surfaced shortly after Netanyahu named him to a Likud slot.

Poll: Good news for right-wing bloc

A Channel 14 News poll gives the right-wing bloc some good news.

Ex-hostage's mother slams Yair Golan

Einav Zangauker claims that during a meeting with Yair Golan in February, she was offered a reserved spot near the top of the Democrats’ Knesset slate and that the agreement was subsequently reaffirmed.

Former Beit Shemesh mayor joins Erdan-Edelstein party

Aliza Bloch officially joins new political party founded by former ministers Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein, after reportedly turning down reserved spot on Likud list.

Blow to Gantz: Dedi Simhi weighs move to Likud

Dedi Simhi, tapped as the No. 2 candidate on Benny Gantz's slate, is reconsidering his political future and considering a jump to Likud if offered a guaranteed spot on their roster.

Poll:

Tropper, Hendel, Erdan, and Edelstein fail to clear threshold

A new Kan 11 News poll reveals that all newly formed political parties are falling well short of the electoral threshold. Meanwhile, the Likud party sees a modest uptick in support.

Arab parties unite for joint election run

Hadash, Balad, and Ta'al join forces to run in the elections with the stated goal of 'toppling the fascist right-wing government.'

Likud attacks: "Fake Right"; Edelstein responds

Likud attacked Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein, claiming they are working to transfer votes to the left. Edelstein responded: "We will support only the formation of a broad Zionist government."

Ex-Likud MK: I'd rather have Yair Golan than the haredim

Former Likud MK Dan Illouz says he would prefer to see Yair Golan as minister rather than key portfolios remain in the hands of haredi parties.

Report: Gantz, Shaked in talks over joint election run

Benny Gantz, Ayelet Shaked, reportedly negotiating joint bid for the upcoming election, with proposed deal giving Gantz lead spot, Shaked first choice of Cabinet post.

Kariv delivers Arabic message on 'settler terrorism'

MK Gilad Kariv releases Arabic-language message, promising to classify attacks by 'extremist settlers' as acts of terrorism.

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.

Heading to Ra'am?

Yoav Segalovitz resigns from Yesh Atid

Yesh Atid MK announces his resignation after seven years in office amid reports that Mansour Abbas is seeking to recruit him to Ra'am.

Poll

Further decline in support for Bennett

An i24NEWS poll indicates that Naftali Bennett's "Together" party has lost another two seats. Gilad Erdan and Yuli Edelstein's new party fails to cross the electoral threshold.

Ben Gvir crushes coalition rivals in new poll

Over 72% of coalition voters want National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to remain in office, Channel 14 poll reveals.

Eli Yishai comeback?

Former Shas leader weighs run with new haredi party

The former Shas chairman is in talks with the "Haredi Public" party, which targets working haredim and advocates enlisting haredim not engaged in full-time Torah study.

After clash with Netanyahu

MK Dan Illouz joins Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu

MK Dan Illouz announces he is joining the Yisrael Beytenu party, led by Avigdor Liberman, after leaving Likud.

Eizenkot takes swipe at Bennett over Qatar

Yashar! party chairman says declaring Qatar an enemy state requires a professional policy review-not election slogans.

MK Kariv:

'We will invest more in the Arab sector'

MK Gilad Kariv says The Democrats party will work to approve a larger five-year development plan for Arab society if it joins the next government.

Poll:

Otzma Yehudit gains ground, rising to 9 Seats

A new Channel 16 poll conducted by Prof. Yitzhak Katz projects 22 seats for Gadi Eisenkot's "Yashar" party, while Otzma Yehudit climbs to 9 seats.

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.

Poll: Likud and Smotrich gain strength

A Channel 12 News poll shows a tie between Likud and Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party, with 23 seats each. Netanyahu's opponents maintain a majority of 70 seats.

Likud minister: 'Whoever isn't learning Torah must enlist'

Energy Minister Eli Cohen backs Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach to haredi enlistment, says haredi leadership apparently not opposed.

Katz launches: 'Finally, a right-wing Defense Minister'

Defense Minister Israel Katz unveils new campaign touting his record in office, highlighting strikes on Iran's terror network.

Shas sets non-negotiable condition for next coalition

Shas faction chairman Yinon Azoulay announces that settling the draft status of yeshiva students will be a baseline requirement for the party joining any post-election government.

Poll:

Bennett and Golan lose seats; Winter doesn't pass threshold

Benett drops to 13 seats, Golan drops to eight, Ofer Winter and Erdan and Edelstein stay behind electoral threshold. Netanyahu and Eisenkot tied for lead.

This fighter pilot's new target: Israel's 'Deep State'

Maj. (res.) Shai Kalach says he aims to fight 'deep state' influence and strengthen Israel’s Jewish identity as he enters Likud primaries ahead of the next Knesset elections.

Liberman

'Likud has become a haredi-lite party'

Yisrael Beytenu chairman rejects the debate over who should be the next prime minister and rules out any cooperation with the Ra'am party.

UTJ's warning to Netanyahu: We're our own bloc

MK Uri Maklev questions Netanyahu's loyalty to the right-wing bloc, predicts he may seek a coalition with Gadi Eisenkot.

Jewish Yesh Atid MK on his way to Israel's Islamist party

A report claims Yesh Atid MK Yoav Segalovitz is expected to meet Mansour Abbas about joining Ra'am ahead of the next Knesset elections.

Israeli Arab Advocate

Silent Arab majority wants a pro-Israel party

After hundreds of pro-Israel campaigns in the hostile Arab media, educator and publicist Nahil Zoabi addresses the prospect of an Arab party supporting Israel

Netanyahu weighs digital primaries for Likud

The Prime Minister is considering shifting Likud to a digital voting system for its primaries. The idea follows his favorable impression of the online primary held by The Democrats party.

Poll:

Eisenkot leads, Tropper and Hendel cross electoral threshold

Channel 12 News poll projects 23 seats for Gadi Eisenkot's "Yashar" party, compared to 22 for Likud. For the first time, the "Zionist Home" party - led by Chili Tropper and Yoaz Hendel - passes the electoral threshold.

Ahead of elections

Likud Central Committee approves all of Netanyahu's requests

The Likud Central Committee approves Netanyahu’s request for eight reserved slate spots, as well as a clause allowing sitting ministers and MKs to run in regional districts.

Smotrich to Arutz Sheva:

'The right cannot afford complacency ahead of elections'

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich speaks with Arutz Sheva-Israel National News in the final hour of the Religious Zionist party primaries, warning against complacency within the right-wing camp.

Foreign interference?

Shin Bet chief to brief Knesset committee

In a closed-door meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Subcommittee for Intelligence, Shin Bet Director David Zini will present data on influence operations by enemy states.

Bennett-Lapid hit all-time low polling numbers

A new Kantar poll shows Likud leading with 22 seats, while Gadi Eisenkot trails by one seat and matches Netanyahu in support for prime minister, while Bennett trails.

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.

Erdan and Edelstein to establish party without Shaked

Former Minister and Ambassador Gilad Erdan is set to launch a liberal right-wing party, with Yuli Edelstein as his number two.