Overview
- Israel will hold national elections on October 27, 2026, with the official campaign already under way and security and accountability for the October 7, 2023 failures dominating the agenda.
- Recent polls show an opposition bloc advantage but no guaranteed governing majority because results are fragmented, some surveys conflict, and an Arab‑party boycott could leave the opposition one seat short.
- Former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot has surged as a principal challenger, running as a security‑focused outsider who polls suggest can match or exceed Likud in seats in some surveys.
- Media and campaign flashpoints have escalated this week with Haaretz reporting that Walla offered paid promotion for Itamar Ben‑Gvir's plan and Haaretz removing billboards after a Likud lawyer complained, and those episodes are sharpening debate over campaign ethics.
- Netanyahu faces unresolved personal risks if he loses power, including an ICC arrest warrant, an ongoing criminal trial and the likely push for a state commission into October 7, while the wars since 2023 have strained manpower, public finances and daily life for many Israelis.