Israel will hold national parliamentary elections on Tuesday (October 27, 2026) to elect the 120 members of the 26th Knesset. The vote is widely viewed as a critical referendum on incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose tenure has been marked by wartime security challenges and judicial controversies.
To form a government, any leader or coalition must secure a simple majority of at least 61 seats. Given Israel's proportional representation system and strict 3.25% electoral threshold, no single party has ever won an outright majority in Israel's history. Former Military Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot—leading the Yashar party—has emerged as Netanyahu’s chief challenger. Recent media polls, including surveys reported by Al Jazeera and Kan, project Eisenkot's main opposition bloc taking roughly 52 to 56 seats, while Netanyahu’s Likud-led right-wing coalition hovers around 49 to 50 seats.
With neither primary bloc projected to reach 61 seats independently, Arab-Israeli parties representing 20% of the country's population—specifically Ra'am (led by Mansour Abbas) and the Joint List—could hold vital kingmaker power. Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas indicated readiness to support the opposition coalition if required to displace Netanyahu. Additionally, over 500,000 first-time youth voters and approximately 70,000 expatriates returning to cast ballots are expected to significantly influence the final turnout and seat distribution.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by International Desk • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
