Israel holds general elections

Oct 28 · Nearly 45% of voters cast ballots by 2 p.m. local time Updated 18:15

The election involves 37 parties. Donald Trump called Benjamin Netanyahu a 'Great Warrior Prime Minister,' according to CNN. CNN reports that families of October 7 victims are calling for political accountability and that Palestinians in Gaza have expressed skepticism that any Israeli election winner will change their humanitarian catastrophe. Breitbart reports that rumors of friction between Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir have fueled the campaign, though Netanyahu has dismissed those reports as 'fake news.' According to CBS News, the AID Coalition estimates that up to 67,000 expats have arrived to vote, supported by initiatives like 'Fly&Vote' and the organization UnXeptable; Israeli citizens Ronnie Teram Gil-Ad and Yael Natra spent thousands of dollars to fly back and vote. CBS News also reports that Gadi Eisenkot has criticized Benjamin Netanyahu for prolonging the Gaza war. PBS reports that President Isaac Herzog will task the most viable candidate with assembling a majority within six weeks and that both Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot have ruled out partnerships with Arab-led parties. The NY Post reported that the elections are taking place in 2026, that nearly 45% of voters had cast ballots by 2 p.m. local time, and that military turnout is higher than in the 2022 election. The NY Post further reports that actor Gal Gadot publicly encouraged citizens to vote and expressed her desire for 'change,' and that Gadi Eisenkot leads the 'Together' coalition. NPR reports that early exit polls show a tight race between Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, and that Netanyahu and Donald Trump plan future attacks against Iran. Fox News reports that initial exit polls indicate Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party remains the largest, but his right-wing and religious bloc is projected to fall short of a parliamentary majority. Fox News adds that official results are expected by November 4 and that the current government remains in power until President Isaac Herzog tasks a lawmaker with forming a government.

Initial exit polls suggest a deadlock that complicates the path to a 61-seat majority. Fox News reports that while Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud remains the largest party, his right-wing and religious bloc is projected to fall short of a majority. This outcome shifts the focus from a simple referendum on leadership to the mathematical difficulty of coalition building.

The possibility of a religious-nationalist shift is now tempered by the projected lack of a clear majority, making the role of smaller parties more critical than ever. However, PBS reports that both Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot have ruled out partnerships with Arab-led parties. This creates a paradox where the parties most likely to hold the balance of power are those the main candidates refuse to engage with.

Vox engages with the deeper systemic tension by framing the vote as a struggle between authoritarian impulses and democratic preservation. While most outlets focus on the immediate political math, Vox highlights the foundational contradiction of seeking a democratic mandate while marginalizing Palestinians and Arab citizens.

Readers should now watch for the official results on November 4 and any shifts in the candidates' stances toward Arab parties. Whether either leader breaks their pledge to exclude Arab-led parties will determine if the current political deadlock can be broken or if Israel faces another period of government instability.

Oct 27 · Over 2.3 million ballots cast by noon in 26th Knesset election Updated 09:04

The national election for the 26th Knesset is held on October 27. Approximately 7.33 million citizens are eligible to vote, including 330,000 first-time voters. Special voting arrangements are in place for diplomats abroad and military personnel in Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza. Israel uses a proportional representation system where voters select party lists rather than a prime minister directly, and the electoral threshold for parties to enter the Knesset is 3.25%. Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid are running on a joint ticket. President Isaac Herzog manages the process of forming a government, which requires a coalition of 61 seats. Gadi Eisenkot and the Yashar party are demanding an independent inquiry into the failures of October 7. Reports state that thousands of Israelis living abroad are flying home to vote. DW reports that Gadi Eisenkot is leading a 'change bloc' and that Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot both oppose a Palestinian state. DW also reports that polls project Arab parties, including the Joint List and Ra'am, may act as kingmakers in coalition talks. Donald Trump has endorsed Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing an international arrest warrant. Polls opened on Tuesday, and the Washington Examiner describes the election as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership. By noon, over 2.3 million ballots were cast, with early data indicating the highest voter turnout in 50 years. Benjamin Netanyahu issued an 'emergency' call on social media urging right-wing supporters to vote, claiming high turnout in Arab areas. Netanyahu warned that failure to vote could lead to a government of the 'Muslim Brotherhood' and cautioned that high voter turnout in 'the Left's strongholds' could impact the election outcome.

The joint ticket of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid introduces a new variable into the struggle for 61 seats. This consolidation of center-right forces could bridge the gap between the liberal democratic framework and the religious-nationalist vision, or it may simply concentrate the opposition vote without expanding its reach. Whether this alliance can attract enough undecided voters to challenge Benjamin Netanyahu remains the primary mathematical question for the 26th Knesset.

DW provides critical utility by identifying that Arab parties, including the Joint List and Ra'am, may act as kingmakers. This highlights that the path to a majority may not depend on a binary choice between the two main candidates, but on the willingness of minority parties to negotiate. DW also notes that both Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot oppose a Palestinian state, suggesting that the territorial core of the conflict may remain unchanged regardless of who wins.

Newsweek and Washington Examiner continue to frame the election as a referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership and the failures of October 7. However, these reports still overlook the specific policy platforms of the smaller parties. Readers still lack information on the specific concessions these kingmaker parties might demand in exchange for the 61st seat, leaving the actual composition of a future government speculative.