{"id":34844,"date":"2026-10-27T07:38:39","date_gmt":"2026-10-27T05:38:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/?p=34844"},"modified":"2026-10-27T07:38:39","modified_gmt":"2026-10-27T05:38:39","slug":"vybory-izrail-netaniakhu-aizenkot-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/world\/vybory-izrail-netaniakhu-aizenkot-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Elections have begun in Israel: will Netanyahu retain power?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Parliamentary elections began in Israel on 27 October 2026, which will determine the composition of the new Knesset and the future of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s government. This is the first nationwide vote since the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023 and the outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu\u2019s main rival is former Chief of the General Staff of the Israeli Defence Forces, Gadi Eizenkot, who leads the centrist Yashar party. Recent polls have shown that neither political camp has a guaranteed majority to form a government.<\/p>\n<div class=\"news-summary-box\"><strong>Briefly about the main points<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>On 27 October, elections are being held in Israel for the 120-seat parliament \u2014 the Knesset.<\/li>\n<li>The main political confrontation has unfolded between Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eizenkot.<\/li>\n<li>These are the first parliamentary elections since the Hamas attack in October 2023.<\/li>\n<li>The support of at least 61 MPs is required to form a government.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Netanyahu versus Eizenkot: who is vying for power<\/h2>\n<p>The current Prime Minister <strong>Binyamin Netanyahu<\/strong> He leads the Likud party and hopes to maintain the coalition with right-wing and religious political forces. During the election campaign, he emphasised military operations against Hamas and Iran, as well as cooperation with the US President <strong>Donald Trump<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Netanyahu\u2019s main opponent is the former Chief of the Israeli General Staff <strong>Gadi Eisenkot<\/strong>. He leads the centrist \u00abYashar\u00bb party and advocates a change in the country\u2019s leadership, greater independence for the judiciary and a review of the rules governing military service.<\/p>\n<p>Among the other candidates in the election is the former prime minister <strong>Naftali Bennett<\/strong>, the opposition leader <strong>Yair Lapid<\/strong>, Minister for National Security <strong>Itamar Ben-Gvir<\/strong> and the leader of the \u00abDemocrats\u00bb party\u00bb <strong>Yair Golan<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>According to a poll published on 23 October by *The Times of Israel*, the two main political blocs could each expect to win around 51 seats. This is fewer than the 61 seats required to form a parliamentary majority.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, the results of other surveys varied. The distribution of votes amongst smaller parties and voter turnout could have a significant impact on the final composition of the Knesset.<\/p>\n<h2>What issues are shaping the elections in Israel?<\/h2>\n<p>One of the main themes of the election campaign was the authorities\u2019 responsibility for the events of 7 October 2023, when militants <a href=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/politics\/netanyahu-trump-gaza-plan-hamas\/\">HAMAS<\/a> attacked Israel. Around 1,200 people were killed and a further 251 were taken hostage.<\/p>\n<p>The opposition is criticising Netanyahu\u2019s government for failures in the security system, the protracted fighting and the refusal to set up an independent state commission to investigate the circumstances of the attack. The Prime Minister\u2019s supporters, for their part, emphasise his experience and Israel\u2019s military achievements.<\/p>\n<p>Military service has become another contentious issue <a href=\"https:\/\/ukrmedia.news\/en\/world\/israel-orthodox-jews-protest-military-draft\/\">ultra-Orthodox Jews<\/a>. The religious parties that form part of Netanyahu\u2019s political camp are calling for the exemptions for students at religious educational institutions to be retained.<\/p>\n<p>Eisenkot and his allies have promised to review these rules and expand conscription. The issue has taken on particular significance following several years of war and the heavy strain placed on the Israeli army.<\/p>\n<p>The course of the campaign is also being influenced by the war in the Gaza Strip, tensions with Iran, international criticism of Israel\u2019s actions and the trial concerning corruption charges against Netanyahu.<\/p>\n<h2>When will the election results be announced?<\/h2>\n<p>Polling stations opened on 27 October at 07:00 local time. Main voting will continue until 22:00, after which Israeli television channels will broadcast the exit poll results.<\/p>\n<p>Approximately 7.3 million citizens are eligible to vote.<\/p>\n<p>Israelis do not elect the Prime Minister directly, but rather the members of the 120-seat Knesset. To enter parliament, a party must clear an electoral threshold of 3.25%.<\/p>\n<p>The final vote count is expected by 30 October, and the official results are due to be published on 4 November.<\/p>\n<p>Following this, the President of Israel <strong>Yitzhak Herzog<\/strong> will hold consultations with political parties and entrust the task of forming a government to the candidate who, in his view, is best placed to secure parliamentary support.<\/p>\n<p>The timeframe allocated for forming the government is up to 42 days.<\/p>\n<h2>Why it matters<\/h2>\n<p>The elections will determine Israel\u2019s political direction following three years of large-scale wars and domestic instability. The new government will have to make decisions on security, relations with Palestine, the standoff with Iran and cooperation with the United States.<\/p>\n<p>The outcome of the vote will also have implications for Israel\u2019s relations with the European Union, some of whose member states have stepped up their criticism of Israeli policy in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.<\/p>\n<p>Even after the votes have been counted, the question of who will be the next Prime Minister may remain unresolved. If none of the political blocs secures sufficient support, the country will face coalition talks.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u0412 \u0406\u0437\u0440\u0430\u0457\u043b\u0456 27 \u0436\u043e\u0432\u0442\u043d\u044f 2026 \u0440\u043e\u043a\u0443 \u0440\u043e\u0437\u043f\u043e\u0447\u0430\u043b\u0438\u0441\u044f \u043f\u0430\u0440\u043b\u0430\u043c\u0435\u043d\u0442\u0441\u044c\u043a\u0456 \u0432\u0438\u0431\u043e\u0440\u0438, \u044f\u043a\u0456 \u0432\u0438\u0437\u043d\u0430\u0447\u0430\u0442\u044c \u0441\u043a\u043b\u0430\u0434 \u043d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u0433\u043e \u041a\u043d\u0435\u0441\u0435\u0442\u0443 \u0442\u0430 \u043c\u0430\u0439\u0431\u0443\u0442\u043d\u0454 \u0443\u0440\u044f\u0434\u0443 \u043f\u0440\u0435\u043c\u2019\u0454\u0440-\u043c\u0456\u043d\u0456\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430 \u0411\u0456\u043d\u044c\u044f\u043c\u0456\u043d\u0430 \u041d\u0435\u0442\u0430\u043d\u044c\u044f\u0433\u0443. \u0426\u0435 \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0448\u0435 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