Israel Elections

Israel braces for rainy Election Day, but can bad weather affect voter turnout?

Showers are expected on Election Day, but turnout figures going back to 1949 show that the weather has never decided who shows up at the ballot box.

People walk in the rain in Jerusalem, August 15, 2026.
Prime Minister and Likud party chairman Benjamin Netanyahu visits the Hatikva Market in Tel Aviv as part of the Likud party’s election campaign ahead of Israel’s upcoming general elections, October 22, 2026.

After Netanyahu meets police chief, Israel's elections chief warns against vote interference

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the Negev Conference in the southern city of Dimona, southern Israel, July 17, 2026.

Dimona's former Netanyahu loyalists turn to Eisenkot as battle for final undecided voters heats up

(L-R): Yashar head Gadi Eisenkot; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Eisenkot leads Netanyahu but deadlock looms, election polls show two days before Israelis vote


Ben-Gvir surges in polls as election campaign exposes deep divisions in Israel

The contrasting reactions to Ben-Gvir's campaign visit to Ramla offered a glimpse into Israel's deeply polarized society as his far-right Otzma Yehudit party surges in the polls.

Election billboards for Otzma Yehudit party and its party head Itamar Ben Gvir, in Ramat Gan. October 04, 2026.

Israel picks between 'secular democracy or theocracy' in election, chess master Garry Kasparov says

"Just as Abraham Lincoln observed that the government could not persist 'half slave and half free,' Israel cannot go on half theocratic and half secular," Kasparov, whose father was Jewish, said.

Israel’s election campaign is gathering pace, with the country’s political parties competing over the questions of security, leadership and the direction Israel takes after three years of war.

Majority of Israelis favor unity government if October 27 election ends without clear winner - poll

The Maariv poll also found that 48% of people think Gadi Eisenkot would make a better prime minister than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had 41% support, giving Eisenkot a significant lead.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) and Gadi Eisenkot (R).

Israel does not need politicians to always agree, but it needs a unity government - editorial

For the politicians vying for our vote to lead the country, the task ahead should not simply be to form the next government but to begin putting the country back together.

Israelis vote for a party list, but have no say on Election Day over which of its candidates will ultimately represent them in the Knesset.

Yaron Zelekha slams Netanyahu's economic policy, vows to cut cost of living

“The reason Bibi attacks me is that he knows that once I become Finance Minister, the public will realize that life here could have been cheaper over the past twenty years,” Zelekha said.

Professor Yaron Zelekha, chairman of the New Economic Party and a candidate on the joint electoral list with Yoaz Hendel’s Reservists Party, speaks during a press conference in the central Israeli city of Modi’in, ahead of Israel’s upcoming general elections, October 15, 2026.

Hamas will be destroyed within 18 months of becoming PM, Eisenkot pledges

In response, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party stated, "How would you destroy Hama without getting permission from your partners, Mansour [Abbas] and [Ahmed] Tibi?"

Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot give press briefing at Gaza border, October 15, 2026.

Netanyahu's dilemma: War with Iran might hand election win to Eisenkot, sources say

Israel has told Washington it would prefer military action against Iran to begin after the October 27 election, according to sources familiar with the matter.

(L-R): Yashar head Gadi Eisenkot; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu on October 7: Nobody told Bush to 'go home' after September 11 attacks

The prime minister said he hoped the election would proceed as scheduled but warned that Israel's enemies could attempt attacks or rocket fire to create an impression of Israeli vulnerability.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the United Nations in New York City, September 24, 2026.

Fitch warns of the elections: 'Political instability will make reducing the deficit difficult'

The rating agency left the credit rating unchanged, but the outlook remains negative. The reason: Fear of an endless election wave that will prevent painful budget decisions from being made.

Fitch rating agency.

'Bennett II': Ben-Gvir refuses to sign vote surplus share agreement with Winter's People of Israel

Ben-Gvir refused to sign a surplus vote agreement with Ofer Winter, calling him "Bennett II," prompting Winter to accuse him of wasting right-wing votes ahead of the elections.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir visits the Maariv and Walla studios at the start of the election campaign, October 13, 2026.