Elections 2015

Full coverage of Israel's 2015 election season on Arutz Sheva

Media Election War: 'Bibiton' Lashes Out at 'Bujiton'

Sheldon Adelson's Israel Hayom, accused of working for Netanyahu, says rivals work shamelessly for Herzog's election.

Netanyahu: I Will Address Congress Despite the Left's Objection

PM Netanyahu says it his duty to warn Congress of the Iranian threat, adds Labor is "not the Zionist camp. It's the anti-Zionist camp".

Herzog: We Are the Real Zionism

Labor Central Committee approves "Zionist Center" list for the coming elections. Livni: This time we will win.

Yishai – Ben Ari Talks at Impasse

Otzma Yehudit wants 4th and 6th spots reserved for it in joint list and demands Temple Mount issue as a plank in the platform.

Report: R' Haim Amsalem, Eli Yishai Discussing Joint List

Rabbi Haim Amsalem and Eli Yishai, both Shas defectors, reportedly in serious talks over possible joint list ahead of Thursday deadline.

Drama in Jewish Home: Will Union Be Nixed?

Deal between Jewish Home and Tekuma for running jointly appeared to be sealed – but is said to be in danger.

Poll: Israelis Prefer Ya'alon as Defense Minister

35.7% of Israelis prefer Ya'alon over other, possibly more qualified candidates, including Bennett, Yadlin, and Galant.

Former Kadima MK Hasson May Join Labor-Hatnua

Yoel Hasson, a former Kadima MK, who has followed steadily behind Livni since Likud, may become #16 on Labor-Hatnua's Knesset list.

'Progress' in Talks for Joint Otzma Yehudit - Ha'am Itanu List

Latest poll showed surge in support for the two parties if they ran together, while individually they wouldn't make it into the Knesset.

Labor Group: Jewish Home 'Pretending' to be Jewish

Labor supporters petitioned Israeli election officials to bar Jewish Home from calling itself that, because it doesn't 'act Jewish.'

Lapid: Haredim Would Join Haman's Govt. If Necessary

Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid said that he was convinced haredi politicians would not hesitate to join a government he was in.

Liberman: Police are Manipulating the Public

FM Avigdor Liberman accuses police of trying to keep Yisrael Beytenu corruption scandal in public eye through constant leaks and headlines.

Hotovely: I Am in the #20 Spot

Tzipi Hotovely criticizes the decision to recount the votes in the Likud primaries, says it will unnecessarily hurt the party.

Third Yesh Atid MK Quits Politics

MK Rina Frenkel to step down, work for Yesh Atid on the executive side, she announces.

Report: Caroline Glick Offered #11 Spot in Likud

Veteran journalist and Latma founder to be offered the spot at Netanyahu's personal request, sources say Saturday night.

Manuel Trajtenberg #11 on Labor List

Labor candidate expected to become Finance Minister under left-wing government appointed to list amid confusion over Amos Yadlin's spot.

Poll: Yishai-Ben Ari Pact to Harm Jewish Home

Jewish Home bumped down to just 13 seats if Otzma Yehudit, Ha'am Itanu join forces - but it could give the right wing a slight edge.

Top Labor Candidate: Pay 'Settlers' to Leave Judea-Samaria

Labor Defense Minister candidate Amos Yadlin pushes incentive plan for 'settlers,' says Israel must repeatedly try for peace deal with PA.

Petition to Block Joint Arab List from Knesset

Yisrael Beytenu to file petition against joint Arab party list on grounds of Balad MKs supporting known terror organizations.

Journalist Erel Segal Won't Join Likud

Journalist Erel Segal says he remains a supporter of Likud but feels he can contribute more as a journalist than as a politician.

Arab MKs Hope to Rid Knesset of 'Extreme Right'

Head of joint list of Arab parties says Arabs hope to "throw Liberman, Bennett and Netanyahu to the garbage bin of history".

Likud Court Orders Recount of Primaries

Likud's internal court accepts petition of Avi Dichter and orders that ballots be recounted.

Bennett Denies Possibility of Joint List with Likud

Jewish Home chairman says there will be a 'nationalist bloc' in any event; the real challenge is who gets appointed as ministers.

Peres as PM Met US President Month Before Elections

Leftist hypocrisy? Netanyahu has received heavy flak for Congress address 2 weeks ahead of elections, but Peres did more 19 years ago.

Yesh Atid Trying to Woo National-Religious Voters?

Lapid's party backtracks on push for public transport on Shabbat, days after opening branch for national religious supporters.

Arab Parties Decide to Run On Joint List

After close to a month of negotiations, United Arab List, Balad, Hadash and Tibi's party decide on unity, with polls giving them 11 seats.

Poll Puts Likud Ahead of Labor by Two Mandates

Latest survey gives Likud 26, Labor 24, and shows Yishai's Ha'am Itanu not making it in.

White House: Obama Will Not Meet Netanyahu, Nor will Kerry

Leftists say Netanyahu's speech in Congress, set for March 3 ahead of March 17 polls, is an election ploy, demand Israeli TV ignore it.

Otzma Yehudit Says 'Yishai's Party Doesn't Want Us'

Ex-MK Ben-Ari's party list features popular Sephardic haredi radio host, as talk of ideological religious Zionist unity wavers.

Netanyahu: Labor's 'Zionist Camp' is Anti-Zionist

Prime minister cites the fact that Labor candidate Bahloul provided testimony on behalf of the family of a terrorist in scathing attack.

Ha'am Itanu Retorts to Ariel: You Join With Otzma Yehudit

MK Chetboun rejects call for national religious ideological unity with ex-MK Ben-Ari, disparaging Jewish Home minister's call.

MK Shimon Solomon Taking Break from Politics

Solomon becomes second MK to quit post in Yesh Atid, although he will remain involved in the party behind the scenes.

Uri Ariel Calls for Otzma Yehudit and Ha'am Itanu to Unite

Jewish Home Minister says 'four or five seats' could be wasted for the Right if Eli Yishai's party misses the Knesset threshold.

Ahmed Tibi Splits Ra'am-Ta'al to Form One-Man Party

Efforts to unify Arab parties took a step backwards Thursday as the Ra'am-Ta'al (UAL) list of four MKs decided to split.

Court Appeal to Stop Labor-Hatnua Running as 'The Zionist Camp'

Jewish Home candidate Ronen Shoval says 'anti-Zionist' statements by party members make the name 'Zionist Camp' misleading to the public.

Gal-On: Media Sabotaging Meretz's Chances

A panicked Zehava Gal-on said Thursday that contrary to the impression many on the right have, the media is “not on our side.”

Netanyahu Unlikely to Run with Jewish Home

After digging into the issue, Netanyahu determined he would need major Likud Central Committee support to form joint list with Jewish Home.

Indyk: Democrats Should Invite Herzog

In the interest of fairness, says Martin Indyk, Congress must invite Labor Party head Yitzhak Herzog to speak.

Kahlon Rules Out Running with Lapid

"We are running alone all the way to the finish line," declares Kulanu chairman as he puts an end to rumors that he's running with Lapid.

53.8% of Religious Israelis Will Only Vote for Party with Women

76.3% of Israelis believe in equal representation of women in Knesset as controversy over haredi parties snowballs.

It's Official: Yesh Atid, Kulanu Running Separately

Yair Lapid and Moshe Kahlon not to combine parties into united center bloc, quelling yet another rumor of a joint list.

Rabbi Ronski: Yishai's Party Diluting the Religious Zionist Vote

Eli Yishai's list is turning into a Religious Zionist one, like Jewish Home - and 2 such parties are too many, says former IDF Chief Rabbi.

United 'Right' Bloc Will Benefit Yisrael Beytenu and Shas

Latest poll shows Likud and Jewish Home will gain 37 seats if they run together, less total than if they were to run separately.

Saga Around Hotovely and Dichter Continues

Likud court suggests that Netanyahu cancel the reserved #11 spot on the list, threatens to consider ordering a recount of all the ballots.

Report: Yadlin May Not Remain MK if He's Not Defense Minister

Former head of Military Intelligence may not remain in the Knesset if Labor doesn't head the government.

Judge Bans Bibi's 'Kindergarten Knesset' Video

Poor sports? Netanyahu's comical campaign clip pulled by Yesh Atid petition, after spoofing opponents as unruly children.

Latest Poll Shows United 'Right Bloc' Would Sweep to Victory

Labor still inches into first place if parties run separately - but a joint Likud-Jewish Home list would leave them a distant second.

Top Kulanu Official Supports Limited Land Swaps

Jerusalem to remain united, but some parts of Israel will 'realistically' be given away, Yoav Galant says.

Same Jewish Home List After Vote Recount

Concerns over faulty vote count result in little change, with only seat swap reported far down the list.

Lapid: I Could Support Legalizing Marijuana

Surprise turnaround for former finance minister, after Lapid vehemently denied being involved in or promoting drug use in 2013.

Ex-MK Mossi Raz is #6 on Meretz List

Mossi Raz, who paid a condolence visit to the family of terrorist Ziad Abu Ein, placed in the #6 spot on the Meretz Knesset list.

Former MI Chief Labor's Pick for 'Next Defense Minister'

Amos Yadlin joins Labor, bumped to #11 spot - and is expected to be appointed as Defense Minister in a Labor government.

Hareidi Women Launch Own Knesset Party

Yet another party for the hareidi camp in the 2015 elections by hareidi women frustrated by discrimination in their communities.

Yisrael Beytenu Presents Knesset List

Several previous MKs likely to find themselves without seats as they are bumped down the list.

Tzipi Hotovely Appointed to #20 Likud Spot

It's official: after weeks of controversy, Avi Dichter replaced by Hotovely for #20, bumping her up to a realistic place on the list.

Eli Yishai Expected to Announce Yachad - Ha'am Itanu List

List to include mix of candidates from hareidi, national-religious sectors; sources say Otzma Yehudit pact unlikely.

Meretz Primaries: 'New Faces to Defeat the Right'

Central committee members vote for far-left Meretz's party list for 20th Knesset; expected to receive 5-6 seats in March elections.

End of the Road: Shaul Mofaz won't be Joining Labor

Kadima party leader turns down reserved spot on Labor party list, effectively marking the end of his political career.

Likud Announces Launch of Anglo Campaign

Netanyahu's push for comprehensive electoral reforms is seen as attractive for olim from western democracies.

Arab Affairs Journalist to Join Labor-Hatnua

Channel 9 journalist Ksenia Svetlova expected to be appointed as #23 to the Labor list, in spot reserved for Hatnua.