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How do Israel's elections work and who are the main contenders?
· Confirmed
In Short: Al Jazeera (Qatar) and The Times of Israel (Israel) both report that the election will take place amid a series of domestic and international issues, including the ongoing conflict with Hamas and Iran.
About 7.3 million Israelis aged 18 and above are eligible to vote, according to the Central Elections Committee, as reported by Al Jazeera (Qatar).
The Supreme Court overturned bans on the Ra’am and Joint List parties, allowing them to participate in the election, as noted by Al Jazeera (Qatar).
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) both report that Netanyahu, the longest-serving prime minister, is seeking another term despite standing trial on corruption charges.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) agree that Netanyahu's Likud party and the far-right coalition it leads are in a close race with a Jewish-led opposition bloc, with neither side likely to win an outright majority in the 120-seat Knesset.
The BBC (United Kingdom) highlights that opposition parties are united in their effort to topple Netanyahu but cannot agree on who should replace him or what a future coalition might look like.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) both note that the Knesset has 120 seats, and a government must hold 61 seats to command a majority.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) agree that the instability began in April 2019, when Netanyahu’s Likud party and Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party tied on 35 seats each.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) both report that parties have 28 days, with a possible extension of up to 14 days, to assemble a coalition reaching 61 seats.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) both note that seats are shared out in proportion to each party’s share of the national vote.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) both report that Netanyahu remains a major political force despite presiding over the greatest catastrophe in Israel’s history.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) both report that Netanyahu's main rivals, including Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan, hold the government politically responsible for the catastrophe and are calling for a state commission of inquiry.
The BBC (United Kingdom) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) both report that Arab voter turnout in national elections is usually below average amid boycotts.
Background
Jewish Americans feel they have a lot at stake in the upcoming elections in Israel as three years of Mideast conflicts rile up emotions across the United States, from street protests to the midterm races.
What's confirmed
- About 7.3 million Israelis aged 18 and above are eligible to vote, according to the Central Elections Committee, as reported by Al Jazeera (Qatar).
- The Supreme Court overturned bans on the Ra’am and Joint List parties, allowing them to participate in the election, as noted by Al Jazeera (Qatar).
- The BBC (United Kingdom) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) both report that Netanyahu, the longest-serving prime minister, is seeking another term despite standing trial on corruption charges.
- The BBC (United Kingdom) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) agree that Netanyahu's Likud party and the far-right coalition it leads are in a close race with a Jewish-led opposition bloc, with neither side likely to win an outright majority in the 120-seat Knesset.
- The BBC (United Kingdom) highlights that opposition parties are united in their effort to topple Netanyahu but cannot agree on who should replace him or what a future coalition might look like.
- The BBC (United Kingdom) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) both note that the Knesset has 120 seats, and a government must hold 61 seats to command a majority.
- The BBC (United Kingdom) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) agree that the instability began in April 2019, when Netanyahu’s Likud party and Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party tied on 35 seats each.
- The BBC (United Kingdom) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) both report that parties have 28 days, with a possible extension of up to 14 days, to assemble a coalition reaching 61 seats.
- The BBC (United Kingdom) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) both note that seats are shared out in proportion to each party’s share of the national vote.
- The BBC (United Kingdom) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) both report that Netanyahu remains a major political force despite presiding over the greatest catastrophe in Israel’s history.
- The BBC (United Kingdom) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) both report that Netanyahu's main rivals, including Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan, hold the government politically responsible for the catastrophe and are calling for a state commission of inquiry.
- The BBC (United Kingdom) and Al Jazeera (Qatar) both report that Arab voter turnout in national elections is usually below average amid boycotts.
What's still developing
- Here’s how the system works and who gets left out.
- 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, the overriding question remains the same as it has been for more than a decade: Will Israelis reelect Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving premier?
- Current polling suggests Gadi Eisenkot (left) is in a tight race with incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu (right) to become Israel's prime minister Israel's general election takes place on Tuesday 27 October.
- Some hold ultra-nationalist positions, such as calling for Israel to annex the West Bank and for the "migration" of Palestinians from Gaza - which could amount to the forced displacement of civilians.
- Many view it as one of the most pivotal elections in Israel's history, with global implications.
- He lost his son, a soldier, in the first months of the Gaza war, and served in Israel's war cabinet under Netanyahu until resigning in 2024 over disagreements about the conflict.
- But all but one of the leading Jewish parties have ruled out working with them.
- Other opposition leaders include former prime minister Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman - both right-wingers who take hardline positions on security and advocate permanent Israeli control over much of the occupied West Bank - and Yair Golan, a left-winger who supports Israel's withdrawal from large parts of the territory.
- It's the first election since the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks on Israel and its subsequent conflicts in Gaza and with Iran, Hezbollah and the Houthis.
- Israel just announced that elections will take place on October 27th, 2026, setting the stage for yet another chapter in one of the world’s most dynamic and complex parliamentary democracies.
- Last week, Israel’s Central Elections Committee voted to disqualify Abu Shehadeh at the request of far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.
- They are descendants of Palestinians who remained within Israel’s borders after the state’s creation in 1948 and have long complained of discrimination compared with Israel’s Jewish majority.