JPost.com - Israel Election 2026

Israeli citizens abroad push to gain voting rights for upcoming elections

BY NATASHA MOZGOVAYA/JTA — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 21:04:28 GMT

Israelis whom the government classifies as nonresidents are assigned a designation known as "Code 51" and removed from the voter registry, even though they retain their citizenship.

Smotrich enters joint ticket talks with former Likud MK Feiglin as Likud slams Ben-Gvir

BY CORINNE BAUM AND ANNA BARSKY — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 14:53:34 GMT

Simultaneously, tensions grew between National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and the Likud party after he announced that Otzma Yehudit would not run together with the Religious Zionist Party.

From lost ship to new battleground: Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir using Altalena in election spat - analysis

BY DEBORAH DANAN/JTA — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 14:34:24 GMT

Ben-Gvir publicized the find without informing Netanyahu or Defense Minister Israel Katz, surprising both men, a detail that quickly fed speculation about tensions between the coalition partners.

As Winter fuels Netanyahu’s discontent, Israel's Right faces a new dilemma

BY HERB KEINON — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 12:42:49 GMT

POLITICAL AFFAIRS: Ofer Winter is betting Israelis want new leadership after October 7, while Netanyahu warns the new party could waste right-wing votes and weaken his bloc in the coming election.

Winter's claimed support for Netanyahu overshadows his campaign, may siphon Likud voters - analysis

BY ANNA BARSKY — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 09:07:19 GMT

Winter is seeking to remove from the agenda the campaign portraying him as a risk to the right, as someone who could help replace Netanyahu or siphon votes away from the bloc.

Ofer Winter, unification of Arab parties, shake up Knesset seats, push RZP below threshold - poll

BY MOSHE COHEN — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 07:43:15 GMT

The data shows that Winter’s entry has created greater complexity within the coalition bloc. Without him, the bloc led by Benjamin Netanyahu receives 43 seats, while with him it rises to 48 seats.

Gilad Erdan confirms talks with Benny Gantz on possible election alliance

BY YEHUDA SHLEZINGER AND 103FM — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 06:15:53 GMT

Gantz also criticized calls to form another narrow coalition without the traditional right, arguing that both a narrow “change” government and a fully right-wing government had failed.

Netanyahu calls for Otzma Yehudit and RZP to unite, Ben-Gvir signals his opposition

BY ESTHER DAVIS AND MAARIV — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 01:50:53 GMT

"Only a large Otzma Yehudit, together with Smotrich and Ofer Winter running together, only in this way can a fully right-wing government be formed," Ben-Gvir said.

Ofer Winter says new People of Israel party will only back Netanyahu for PM

BY AVI SOLOMON — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 21:13:26 GMT

Former IDF general Ofer Winter positioned his new party firmly in the right-wing camp, backing Netanyahu and calling for changes to haredi draft policy.

Bennett adds longtime adviser, IDF reservist Jeremy Saltan to B’Yachad Knesset slate

BY SHIR PERETS — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:59:20 GMT

Saltan is also the third immigrant from the United States on the slate, alongside MK Michal Slawny Cababia and Mati Gill.

Matan Kahana: Ofer Winter firmly in Netanyahu bloc, Gantz and Troper should unite or quit race

BY 103FM — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 22:43:56 GMT

Yashar! party official Matan Kahana told 103FM on Wednesday that Ofer Winter would strengthen Netanyahu's bloc, while condemning MK Zvi Sukkot's destruction of a West Bank memorial as "a disgrace."

Israel extends foreign-passport entry to allow citizens to return home ahead of October elections

BY SHIR PERETS — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 18:52:02 GMT

“We will ensure that every Israeli who chooses to come to Israel and vote will be able to exercise their democratic right,” The Democrats MK Gilad Kariv.

Minister Gamliel files police complaint over Likud primary recount in Be'er Ya'akov

BY AVI SOLOMON — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 18:04:12 GMT

The Likud announced on Tuesday that it would conduct a recount of the ballot boxes from Be’er Ya’akov after Gamliel appealed to the party’s Supreme Court.

A new Right? Winter’s People of Israel could secure six seats, at expense of Smotrich's RZP - poll

BY AVI SOLOMON — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 16:48:22 GMT

Although the Religious Zionism Party also received six seats, it would fail to cross the threshold to enter Knesset, according to the Wendesday poll.

'He's from Muslim Brotherhood': Otzma Yehudit calls to bar Ra'am MK Abbas from Knesset elections

BY SHIR PERETS — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:18:25 GMT

The demand came following a post shared by Abbas, in which he claimed Arab parties were forced to accept Israel as a Jewish state to avoid being barred from elections, and it was not a choice.

Netanyahu weighs rotation gov't with Eisenkot amid fears of not securing majority bloc in Knesset

BY ANNA BARSKY — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:39:21 GMT

Against this backdrop, the possibility of Netanyahu taking over the presidency after Herzog's term ends is being discussed.

Yair Netanyahu criticizes Winter's new party as reports emerge over connection with PM

BY MAARIV ONLINE — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:37:13 GMT

Netanyahu claimed that the new party would lead to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu losing the upcoming election to Gadi Eisenkot.

Netanyahu appoints sole Russian-speaking Likud candidate Elkin to lead party's immigrant outreach

BY ANNA BARSKY — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 20:41:23 GMT

The appointment adds weight to the possibility that a decision guaranteeing that outcome will soon follow, moving Elkin into a realistic position on the Likud list.

Arab Israeli activist Yoseph Haddad joins Winter's People of Israel, aims to be hasbara minister

BY SHIR PERETS — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 19:46:31 GMT

Haddad argued that public diplomacy is inseparable from Israel's national security, saying he aimed to be Israel’s next public diplomacy minister and the first Arab member of the security cabinet.

Religious ex-IDF general Ofer Winter touts new 'People of Israel,' taps activist Yoseph Haddad

BY SHIR PERETS — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 18:45:11 GMT

Winter announced his list by highlighting the cities his members came from, including journalist Netali Shem-Tov from Metula and Sigal Kroanik, the Local Security Coordinator of Be’eri.

Likud petitions election committee to penalize Yair Golan over alleged 'electioneering'

BY SHIR PERETS AND MIRIAM SELA-EITAM — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 16:16:02 GMT

In the video, Golan states that Zvi Sukkot’s illegal destruction of a Palestinian monument in the West Bank “did not happen in a vacuum,” stating it was the “spirit of Netanyahu” that enabled him.

Israel Election 2026: What does Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu stand for?

BY SHIR PERETS — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:16:32 GMT

"If I put this ballot in the box, what government, policies, and political reality am I helping create?"

'Running to fix broken systems’: Haskel defines Israel First as Pollard joins slate - interview

BY GABRIEL COLODRO/THE MEDIA LINE — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:08:45 GMT

After three years of war and political disputes surrounding military service, she said Israelis need leaders who approach public responsibility with the determination of a parent protecting a child.

Eisenkot edges Netanyahu for PM suitability, Yashar bigger than Likud - poll

BY MAARIV ONLINE — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:19:15 GMT

The bloc breakdown based on the results shows the coalition bloc with 50 seats, the opposition with 59 seats, and Arab parties with 11 seats.

Netanyahu warns against small right-wing parties, says they could hand election to 'fascist Left'

BY KESHET NEEV — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:44:41 GMT

The prime minister's statement also came as Arab-Israeli activist Yoseph Haddad officially registered a new Right-wing party under the name "Brave Israel" on Monday.

Bennett: Next gov't will declare national education emergency, address teacher shortage

BY KESHET NEEV — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 20:04:44 GMT

Bennett has said that a government led by him would cut state funding to haredi educational institutions that do not teach core curriculum studies and halt funding to haredim who evade service.

Sohlberg allows Ben-Gvir to attend police event despite election campaigning concerns

BY SARAH BEN-NUN — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 10:28:26 GMT

The event at hand is an appreciation event for Israel Police volunteers and members of police emergency squads. It is officially planned to mark 50 years of the police volunteer system.

Ex-Yesh Atid MK Elazar Stern joins Eisenkot's Yashar, after announcing resignation from Knesset

BY SHIR PERETS AND TOBIAS HOLCMAN — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 09:56:41 GMT

Earlier this month, Stern announced his resignation from Yesh Atid, where he had been a member since 2015, and initially said he would resign from the Knesset entirely.

Yashar surges ahead of Likud in the polls, but can Eisenkot turn popularity into power? - analysis

BY GABRIEL COLODRO/THE MEDIA LINE — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 00:55:14 GMT

Other recent polls have differed on the size of the advantage, but most of the six surveys reviewed for this article placed Yashar ahead of Likud.

Yoaz Hendel rules out coalition with haredi or Arab parties, says Netanyahu should leave office

BY 103FM — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 17:09:55 GMT

Yoaz Hendel said that his party's goal is "solely to establish a Zionist government" and emphasized that he will not sit with Netanyahu or any Arab parties.