Israel sets national election for October 27
Israel’s parliament said on July 12 that national elections will be held on October 27, 2026 — the latest date permitted by law, with the Knesset stating it has “no intention of shortening the legislature’s tenure.” The vote will come as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition reaches the end of its full four-year term.
Netanyahu, 76, has confirmed he will run again despite ongoing criticism over the security failures around the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, his handling of the Gaza war, and his continuing corruption trial. Early polling puts his main rival, former army chief Gadi Eisenkot and his Yashar party, ahead of Netanyahu’s Likud.
Setting the date at the legal maximum gives Netanyahu the longest possible runway to shift the polling before voters go to the ballot. The campaign is expected to turn heavily on accountability for October 7 and the conduct of the war.