Israel's 120-Seat Knesset Dissolves for October 27 Election After First Full Term Since 1988
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 17
Israel's 120-Seat Knesset Dissolves for October 27 Election After First Full Term Since 1988
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 17
Summary
October 27, 2026 is set for Israel’s next national election after the 120-member Knesset dissolves on Friday, ending the first full parliamentary term since 1988.
3.25% is the threshold parties must clear in Israel’s nationwide proportional system, where no party has ever won an outright majority and coalition-building decides who governs.
23 seats are projected for former army chief Gadi Eizenkot’s new Yashar party, narrowly ahead of Netanyahu’s Likud on 22, while Bennett and Lapid’s joint ticket is seen winning 16.
59 seats are projected for anti-Netanyahu parties—still two short of the 61 needed for a majority—while the pro-Netanyahu bloc is seen on 51 and Arab parties on 10.
Ultra-Orthodox military conscription, Netanyahu’s handling of regional wars and domestic institutions, and Israel’s continued rightward drift are shaping a race whose outcome remains uncertain.
With new laws on the military and courts, is Israel's democracy being sacrificed for political survival?
Is the battle over military exemptions pushing Israel toward an unavoidable societal breaking point?
The 2026 Israeli Elections: Dissolution, Divisions, and the Struggle for Democratic Stability
Overview
The recent dissolution of the Knesset has set the stage for new elections in October 2026, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces growing political pressure. This move follows a shifting political landscape, with opinion polls showing increased support for opposition parties led by figures like Naftali Bennett. Netanyahu has faced widespread criticism over issues such as the situation in Gaza, controversial judicial reforms, and disputes about military conscription. These challenges have fueled public discontent and strengthened the opposition, making new elections necessary to determine Israel’s future political direction.