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Israeli elections

Left to right: Former prime minister Naftali Bennett speaks during a press conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem, May 20, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Opposition Leader Yesh Atid MK Yair Lapid leads a faction meeting at the Knesset on May 25, 2026 (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar party, speaks during a conference at Tel Aviv University, May 12, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90); Leader of the Democrats party Yair Golan leads a faction meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem, on May 25, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90); Yisrael Beytenu chair Avigdor Liberman leads a faction meeting at the Knesset on May 25, 2026. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
June 5, 2026, 1:17 am
Poll shows anti-Netanyahu bloc winning majority; Eisenkot seen as best fit to be PM in separate survey
Zman Yisrael has Zionist opposition parties winning 62 seats, enough to form a government, though they would come short of a majority if all Arab factions run on joint slate
By ToI Staff
Former defense minister Yoav Gallant arrives for a hearing at an internal Likud tribunal in Tel Aviv to present his defense against a move to expel him from the party, September 29, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/FLASH90)
March 12, 2026, 11:44 am
Yoav Gallant says he won’t run for office in next election, leaves future open
Former defense minister, fired by PM in November 2024 amid heated wartime disagreements that have persisted past his sacking, says ‘right now isn’t the time’ for him to run
By ToI Staff
The Democrats chairman Yair Golan (center, standing) holds a press conference in Tel Aviv to present the party’s new members, January 6, 2026. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
January 6, 2026, 11:04 pm
Anti-government protest leaders, brother of murdered hostage join Democrats party
Welcoming Moshe Radman, Ami Dror, Danny Elgarat and others who led movements against judicial overhaul and for hostage release, faction chief Yair Golan calls on more to join left-wing faction
By Ariela Karmel
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett holds an election event for women in Tel Aviv, December 3, 2025. (Tal Schneider/Times of Israel)
December 7, 2025, 7:06 pm
Courting women voters, Bennett vows to revolutionize female representation
At a campaign event for female activists, the former PM says 6 of his new party’s 9 co-founders are women — ‘not because they are women, but because they are excellent’
By Tal Schneider
Yoaz Hendel, head of the Reservists’ Party, speaks during the party’s launch event ahead of the 2026 general elections, at Kibbutz Ma'ale HaHamisha near Jerusalem, November 19, 2025. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)
December 3, 2025, 6:11 pm
New ‘Reservists’ party accuses Likud of pressuring registrar to block its registration
HaMiluimnikim says ruling party is exploiting state mechanisms to curb competition; justice minister denies accusation
By Ariela Karmel
Head of the Democrats party Yair Golan at a conference in Jerusalem on November 17, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
November 30, 2025, 6:03 am
A defiant Yair Golan says he can lead the left out of oblivion by redrawing the map
Uniting Labor and Meretz, The Democrats head claims he can attract voters without pandering; argues that ideology is less important than bread-and-butter issues like affordability
By Ariela Karmel
Yoaz Hendel speaking at a press conference for his HaMiluimnikim party, November 19, 2025. (Courtesy)
November 20, 2025, 1:13 pm
Yoaz Hendel says his ‘Reservists’ party wants government without Haredi, Arab factions
Former communication minister’s new party previously said it would sit with anyone who accepted its principles, including universal military service
By Ariela Karmel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in the Knesset, February 7, 2024. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90/File)
October 20, 2025, 2:12 am
Coalition said mulling lowering electoral threshold to save Smotrich in next elections
With far-right Religious Zionism polling too low to enter parliament, Netanyahu is said to be concerned his bloc could see vital votes wasted
By ToI Staff
Illustrative: People look at electronic devices while relaxing in Tel Aviv on June 4, 2025. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)
October 18, 2025, 8:22 am
AI tools supercharge foreign influence campaigns targeting Israelis on social media
Mimicking popular Facebook groups, a shadowy network used AI-generated content to target voters — revealing the country’s growing vulnerability to digital manipulation
By Stav Levaton
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett speaks during the Israel Information Technology Conference in Ness Ziona, May 5, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
September 21, 2025, 7:02 pm
Bennett vows that nobody will be ‘allowed to postpone or disrupt’ 2026 election
Ex-prime minister urges those in public service to not bow to ‘pressure’ to ‘bend the law,’ as coalition ministers claim he is fabricating concerns
By Ariela Karmel
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett visits the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City, May 26, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
September 7, 2025, 2:34 pm
Bennett says government full of ‘stupid ministers,’ plans to form united centrist party
In leaked recordings, former premier says if he were to win elections he would pass a constitution and enact term limits, and that Israel has ‘no choice’ but to draft Haredim
By ToI Staff
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid speaks at a Yesh Atid conference in Tel Aviv on September 1, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
September 2, 2025, 3:57 am
Lapid: If Netanyahu wins the next election, ‘it will be the end of Zionism’
PM’s associate said urging restoration of direct elections for premiership amid polls showing Likud and allies failing to secure a Knesset majority
By Sam Sokol and ToI Staff
Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen in an interview on the Yasmin Lukatz Podcast, August 26, 2025. (Screenshot/YouTube)
August 27, 2025, 1:36 am
Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen declares he should be next prime minister
Longtime Netanyahu aide says Israel needs ‘real change’ and that he will campaign on platform of ‘unity and security’ in next elections, claims premiership not a political position
By ToI Staff
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits the scene where an Iranian ballistic missile impacted, causing damage at the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, June 20, 2025. (Itai Ron/Pool via Flash90)
June 24, 2025, 12:28 pm
Netanyahu said weighing snap elections in light of popular Iran offensive
Channel 12 reports PM may seek to capitalize on expected boost in support, would run on plans for normalization with Saudi Arabia, preventing a Palestinian state
By ToI Staff
Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen attends a menorah-lighting ceremony on the sixth night of Hanukkah, at the Great Synagogue in Tel Aviv, December 30, 2024. (Avshalom Sassoni/ Flash90/ File)
June 8, 2025, 7:20 pm
Ex-Mossad chief Yossi Cohen said considering forming new party before next election
Cohen reportedly received offers to join existing factions but is inclined to go his own way; ex-PM Bennett, ahead in polls, completes registration for new party
By ToI Staff and Sam Sokol
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