2026 Israeli Elections

Eisenkot says he would sit with haredim as Liberman talks loom

His comments come after reports of contacts regarding a possible merger between his party and Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beytenu, who has repeatedly criticized 'draft-dodging.'

Yashar! Party leader Gadi Eisenkot speaks in Herzliya, April 26, 2026; illustrative.
A man wearing a mask depicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds images of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich at a protest in Tel Aviv, last month. When both sides view the election in such existential terms, restraint disappears, the writer warns.

Israel’s upcoming election season could become its ugliest yet - opinion

A LIKUD supporter waves the party’s flag at a gathering, a show of grassroots loyalty which has long defined the movement, even as critics say its primaries have reshaped, and at times distorted, who rises within its ranks.

Middle Israel: How Likud’s primaries poisoned Israeli politics - opinion

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a Jerusalem Day event, May 14, 2026; illustrative.

Over half of Israelis want PM Netanyahu to retire from politics, not run in Knesset election - poll


Arab-Israeli activist Yoseph Haddad weighs new party bid with ex-Jerusalem deputy mayor - exclusive

Haddad is aiming to translate his social media support into real influence within Jerusalem's political apparatus.

Yoseph Haddad demonstrates against a rally marking the "Nakba" at Tel Aviv University, May 15, 2024; illustrative.

Bennett, Eisenkot lead PM suitability polling ahead of Netanyahu - poll

In last week's poll, conducted before the announcement of the Together Party, Bennett and Lapid together held 31 seats. Results of today's poll show a three-seat drop, leaving them at 28 seats.

Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot at a march for conscripting haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jews into the IDF, in Jerusalem, January 15, 2026; illustrative.

Gadi Eisenkot pledges to place Druze candidate in 'realistic' place on Yashar! Party election list

Yashar! Party Chairman Gadi Eisenkot pledges to place a Druze candidate in a "realistic" spot on the party's Knesset election list, following a tour of Druze towns.

Yashar! Party leader Gadi Eisenkot speaks in Herzliya, April 26, 2026; illustrative.

Economist Shaul Meridor joins Eisenkot's Yashar! Party

Economist Shaul Meridor, former director-general at Israel’s Energy Ministry and head of the Budget Division, joined Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar! Party, pledging to help lead a deep reform in Israel.

Shaul Meridor (L) and Gadi Eisenkot (R), April 28, 2026.

Lapid offers to concede second spot on joint list with Bennett to bring Eisenkot in

The invitation follows Sunday’s announcement by Bennett and Lapid of their new unified party, Together, during which they also publicly called on Eisenkot to join them.

Opposition Leader and Head of the Yesh Atid party Yair Lapid and former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett speak during a press conference announcing a joint list named “Together” ahead of upcoming elections, to be led by Bennett, in Herzliya, central Israel, April 26, 2026.

Netanyahu attacks Bennett, Lapid's joint party list announcement with inflammatory video

Members of the Netanyahu-led coalition and the opposition reacted to Bennett and Lapid's announcement that the two will form a joint list for the 2026 Knesset elections.

 (L-R) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett, Opposition Leader and Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid.

Israeli politics shaken as Bennett and Lapid join forces again - analysis

On paper, Bennett and Lapid had no business being allied. However, the personal trust between them is the central campaign promise.

 Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid seen at a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on June 19, 2022.

Former PMs Bennett, Lapid hold press conference, launch unified party for Knesset elections

Space has been left for Yashar! leader Gadi Eisenkot to join the former prime ministers' merger as well, Bennett’s office told The Jerusalem Post.

Former PMs Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid arrive at the launch of their Knesset joint party list, April 26, 2026.