Israelis are scheduled to vote on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, in the first national elections held since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas. The election is described as a referendum on the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While Israel is currently involved in military operations in Gaza and Lebanon and has engaged in conflict with Iran, candidates have largely focused on domestic concerns rather than wartime conduct.
The election follows a period of domestic friction, including a 2023 judicial overhaul and a long-standing debate over military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews. The campaign features two primary electoral blocs, both dominated by parties that support Jewish settlement in the West Bank and oppose the creation of a Palestinian state. Netanyahu has faced criticism regarding the security failures of October 7, while he has attributed responsibility to security officials and highlighted military successes against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran.
Conscription remains a central point of contention, as Netanyahu’s governing coalitions have historically relied on ultra-Orthodox parties that demand exemptions for religious students. Approximately 13,000 ultra-Orthodox men reach the draft age of 18 annually, but fewer than 10% enlist. Centrist rival Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief who lost family members in the Gaza conflict, has campaigned on ending these exemptions to address a national shortage of soldiers.
Economically, the cost of living in Israel is higher than that of several wealthy European nations, including Austria and Denmark. While 38% of Jewish Israelis and 46% of the Arab minority identify the economy as a top priority, military spending remains a factor; economics professor Joseph Zeira noted the "tremendous" cost of the conflict. No major candidate has yet made wartime spending a central campaign pillar.
Because Israel uses a proportional representation system, voters select parties rather than individuals, and no single party is expected to secure a 61-seat majority in the Knesset. If a majority coalition cannot be formed following Tuesday's vote, Netanyahu’s current government will remain in a caretaker capacity until a subsequent round of elections is held. The next legislature will also determine the fate of the judicial overhaul, as the 2023 appointment law is scheduled to take effect once the new body is sworn in.