First Knesset election ballots cast as voting opens at Israel’s missions abroad

Israel is set to hold its 2026 election, marking a significant political event for the nation. The vote comes in the wake of the Hamas-led attacks in 2023 and the ongoing war with Iran, which have strained Israel's international relations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving premier, is seeking a seventh term and faces criticism for his handling of the recent conflicts, which have isolated the country abroad.

Other key issues on the ballot include the security situation in the occupied West Bank, the expansion of settlements, and compulsory military conscription for the ultra-Orthodox community. The electoral system in Israel uses proportional representation, meaning no single party has won a majority of seats since the nation's founding in 1948. Parties must form coalitions to gain power, and the 120-member Knesset has been shaped by negotiations between various political factions.

The main contenders for leadership include Netanyahu and his Likud party, along with opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot and his Change bloc, which also features ex-Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and former Deputy Prime Minister Avigdor Liberman. Polls suggest a potential deadlock in the election results, requiring Netanyahu or his rivals to form a government through coalition agreements with smaller parties.

In contrast to Israeli citizens, millions of Palestinians residing in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza cannot vote due to their lack of Israeli citizenship. While Arab parties were initially banned from participating in the 2026 election, this ban has since been lifted. Voter turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel is expected to increase this year, with polls indicating a 70 percent turnout rate for the Palestinian-led Joint List.