Israel Elections

Israel Election 2026: What do Arye Deri's Shas and Yaakov Asher's United Torah Judaism stand for?

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

Shas leader MK Arye Deri (L) and United Torah Judaism leader MK Ya’akov Asher.
Thousands of Jewish and Israeli Americans participate in the annual Israel Day Parade, the world’s largest pro-Israel parade, on May 31, in New York City. Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who did not attend the march, is the first New York mayor not to do so.

How would Israeli Jews vote in a US election and how would US Jews vote in Israel? - opinion

Former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz leads Blue and White, which is polling below the electoral threshold.

Parties finalize Knesset slates before deadline as Gantz’s Blue and White runs alone despite polls

A man takes a selfie with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during Likud party primary elections ahead of Israel’s general election in October, in Jerusalem, Monday, August. 17, 2026.

Likud submits final candidate list as Netanyahu warns 2026 election will decide Israel's future


Israel teaches students how to vote, but not how to make an informed political choice - opinion

Israel’s schools already teach students that voting matters. The harder lesson is how to reach a decision worth owning.

 High school students take their mathematics matriculation examination (Bagrut), in at a high school in Rishon Lezion, on May 20, 2019.

Ofer Winter slams rabbi who said it was against Jewish law to vote for party with Arab-Israeli

The Tzohar Rabbinical Organization rejected Aviner’s interpretation, saying leading halachic authorities had already ruled that Jews may vote for non-Jewish candidates for the Knesset.

The launch of the People of Israel party, led by Ofer Winter, ahead of the upcoming Israeli general elections, in Jerusalem, August 25, 2026.

'Not a slip of the tongue': Golan says Sara Netanyahu's Oct. 7 comments are part of planned moves

"It's not a slip of the tongue. I simply see what's happening on the networks, what elements within the Likud, within the coalition, have been saying about me since October 7," he told Maariv.

Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu at a memorial dinner for late Republican senator Lindsey Graham, July 28, 2026.

MK Gotliv accuses Netanyahu of pushing her down Likud list due to secret judicial reform deal

Gotliv later hinted at a political future outside Likud and said she was considering leaving for another right-wing party, saying “I would consider it seriously.”

MK Tally Gotliv attends a House committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem on, June 15, 2026.

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

"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.

(L-R): National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich seen in the Knesset plenum, December 29, 2022

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

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.

Ra'am party head MK Mansour Abbas and MK Walid al-Huashla at faction meeting, at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on June 15, 2026.

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

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.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu casts his ballot at his party Likud's main polling station during primary elections ahead of Israel's general election in October in Jerusalem on August 17, 2026; illustrative

Developments of the last week that could affect the approaching elections - opinion

His goal was to put unattractive candidates out of realistic places on the list – or as low on the list as possible. In many cases Netanyahu was successful, or at least partially successful. 

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara arrive to cast their vote at a polling station in Jerusalem on August 17, 2026, as party members vote in the Likud primary elections to determine the party’s Knesset list ahead of the Israeli general elections.

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

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. 

Otzma Yehudit party chairman and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, together with members of his party, attends a supporters’ conference ahead of the upcoming general elections in Petah Tikva, central Israel, August 16, 2026.

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

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.

MK Elazar Stern and Gadi Eisenkot.