Israeli elections

Netanyahu is down but not out – this is no time to bet against the comeback king

With 600,000 votes still uncounted and Bibi’s opposition facing a deep dilemma over how to form a governing bloc, Israel could yet see him back at the helm

By Jane Prinsley

2 min read

Benjamin Netanyahu with his wife and ministers at an election-night event in Jerusalem (Photo by Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images)

Former Israeli Ambassador to the UK Mark Regev at an election night event in Israel on October 27, 2026 (theJC)

Israeli elections

Exclusive: UK-Israel relations won’t improve whatever the election result, former ambassador tells JC

By Jane Prinsley

4 min read

Likud Party campaign posters showing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at the party's offices ahead of Israel's general elections (Credit: Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Israeli elections

‘This is tense. It really feels like lives are at stake in this election’

By Daniel Ben-David

5 min read

A man walks near an electoral billboard for the Yashar party led by Gadi Eisenkot, Israel's former military chief of staff, in Tel Aviv on October 25, 2026 ahead of the legislative election on October 27. (Photo by Jack GUEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

By Jane Prinsley

Israelis want security as they head to the polls. The question is: who will deliver it?

5 min read

Benjamin Netanyahu at Likud election-night event in Jerusalem (Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

Israeli elections

Israel elections 2026 live: Likud claims Arab parties ‘stole’ election and calls for probe into alleged ‘fraud’

By JC Reporter

36 min read

Yashar party chairman Gadi Eisenkot during an election rally at Hangar 11 in Tel Aviv on October 25, 2026 (Flash90)

Israeli elections

‘No indication’ of systematic ballot tampering, say Israeli election authorities after three parties lodge complaints

By Jacob Jaffa

2 min read

Israelis stand in line to cast their ballots at a polling station during on October 27, 2026 (Flash90)

Israeli elections

Early turnout hits highest level ever in Israeli election

By Jacob Jaffa

2 min read

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Cost of living, crime and Knesset representation are Israeli Arab voters’ main concerns, JC vox pop finds

Some said that being an Arab was not the biggest factor when voting

By Daniel Ben-David

3 min read

October 27, 2026 09:29

Pictures of children killed on October 7 and in the Gaza war adorn a wall in Ajami, an Arab-majority neighbourhood in Jaffa, southern Tel Aviv

‘Just vote against Bibi,’ Garry Kasparov urges Russian-Israelis ahead of Knesset election

The former chess world champion suggested that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s ouster could help Ukraine and weaken the Putin regime in Moscow

By Hayley Cregor

2 min read

October 26, 2026 18:10

Russian former chess world champion Garry Kasparov attends the Warsaw Security Forum in Warsaw, Poland, on October 12, 2026 (Getty Images)

Final polls before 2026 Israeli elections predict coalition deadlock

Gaid Eisenkot retains a comfortable cushion over incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but neither bloc looks set to gain enough seats to form a majority government

By Jacob Jaffa

2 min read

October 26, 2026 17:11

MKs attend a plenum session in the assembly hall of the Knesset on July 28, 2026 (Flash90)

Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have done ‘enormous reputational damage’ to Israel, says billionaire Bill Ackman ahead of Knesset election

The prominent investor and outspoken pro-Israel advocate has called for the two far-right leaders to be excluded from the next coalition government

By Hayley Cregor

1 min read

October 26, 2026 12:08

US hedge fund manager Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, speaks during the Milken Institute Global Conference at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, on May 4, 2026 (Getty Images)

By Idan Siboni

Memory of fallen soldiers must never be exploited for cynical election slogans

Law must ensure political campaigns can use names and images of the dead only with consent of bereaved families

2 min read

October 25, 2026 15:22

Laly Derai is a journalist and social activist whose son Sgt. 1st Class (res.) Saadia Derai fell in Gaza

UK sanctions handed Netanyahu electoral boost, new polling shows

Israelis also showed more support for the settlement project and attached less importance to maintaining good relations with the UK and Europe

By Jacob Jaffa

2 min read

October 25, 2026 10:11

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the Mahane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem on October 22, 2026 (Flash90)

By Stephen Pollard

Inside Israel, I see how little haters worldwide understand this election

Benjamin Netanyahu’s future is at stake – but the issues for voters in a nation recovering from trauma are far removed from luxury beliefs of critics living safely abroad

3 min read

October 23, 2026 18:41

Benjamin Netanyahu at a Likud campaign rally on September 17, 2026 in Tel Aviv (Amir Levy/Getty Images)

Opposition bloc widens lead over Netanyahu coalition days out from Israeli elections, JC polling analysis shows

The Yashar leader looks to be the frontrunner to form the next government, but will likely face a struggle to assemble a workable coalition

By Jacob Jaffa

2 min read

October 22, 2026 13:34

Prime Minister Netanyahu attends a session of the Knesset in Jerusalem on July 16, 2026 (Getty Images)

Young Arab Israelis open to voting for non-Arab parties as crime tops priorities

Less than half of voters in the minority group aged 18 to 26 said they were exclusively loyal to political representatives from within their community

By Melanie Swan

1 min read

October 22, 2026 10:20

Mansour Abbas of Ra'am holds a joint press conference with new party member Yoav Segalovich in Nazareth on August 31, 2026 (Flash90)

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Israeli elections

Netanyahu is down but not out – this is no time to bet against the comeback king

Exclusive: UK-Israel relations won’t improve whatever the election result, former ambassador tells JC

‘This is tense. It really feels like lives are at stake in this election’

Israelis want security as they head to the polls. The question is: who will deliver it?

Israel elections 2026 live: Likud claims Arab parties ‘stole’ election and calls for probe into alleged ‘fraud’

‘No indication’ of systematic ballot tampering, say Israeli election authorities after three parties lodge complaints

Early turnout hits highest level ever in Israeli election

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More from Israeli elections

Cost of living, crime and Knesset representation are Israeli Arab voters’ main concerns, JC vox pop finds

‘Just vote against Bibi,’ Garry Kasparov urges Russian-Israelis ahead of Knesset election

Final polls before 2026 Israeli elections predict coalition deadlock

Ben-Gvir and Smotrich have done ‘enormous reputational damage’ to Israel, says billionaire Bill Ackman ahead of Knesset election

Memory of fallen soldiers must never be exploited for cynical election slogans

UK sanctions handed Netanyahu electoral boost, new polling shows

Inside Israel, I see how little haters worldwide understand this election

Opposition bloc widens lead over Netanyahu coalition days out from Israeli elections, JC polling analysis shows

Young Arab Israelis open to voting for non-Arab parties as crime tops priorities