JERUSALEM, Oct 26 - Israel is gearing up for a crucial parliamentary election on October 27, with preparations underway across the country to facilitate voting, monitor the process and count ballots. From polling stations and ballot boxes to election-integrity inspectors, the preparations involve a nationwide administrative operation ahead of a vote that could determine the country’s political direction.At the centre of the preparations is Israel’s Central Elections Committee, the independent statutory institution responsible for administering elections to the Knesset, the country’s 120-member parliament.During a visit to the committee in Jerusalem, WION reviewed the scale of the arrangements being put in place for election day, including the deployment of personnel, the distribution of voting materials and safeguards designed to oversee the electoral process.According to figures released by the committee, approximately 7.3 million Israelis are eligible to vote. The country will have 12,018 polling stations and 18,000 ballot boxes, while around 100,000 personnel are expected to be on duty on election day.The committee’s election budget stands at 690 million Israeli shekels, highlighting the scale of the logistical exercise.&nbsp;<h2>450 million ballot slips and thousands of monitoring cameras</h2>The preparations extend far beyond setting up polling booths.The Central Elections Committee says it has printed approximately 450 million ballot slips, with around 11.5 million slips allocated to each party list. The process involves approximately 250 tonnes of paper.Around 15,000 cameras are also being deployed for election-integrity inspectors to document voting and report potential irregularities.The committee’s presentation lists 6,209 accessible polling stations, including 3,621 designated as specially accessible stations. These arrangements are intended to help voters with disabilities exercise their right to vote.Training is another major component of the operation. Approximately 50,000 trainees are expected to participate in around 2,140 training sessions, according to the figures presented by the committee.The aim is to ensure that polling stations are staffed, voting procedures are followed and ballots are handled under established electoral rules.&nbsp;<h2>Free transport and access to polling stations</h2>Getting voters to their designated polling stations is another part of the preparations.The committee’s presentation lists free travel on 660 intercity public transport routes on election day, including Israel Railways services. The arrangements are intended to facilitate access for eligible voters who need to travel to cast their ballots.Israel generally requires citizens to vote in person at designated polling stations. Absentee voting is limited to specific categories, meaning most Israelis living overseas cannot simply cast their ballots from abroad.&nbsp;In another significant aspect of this election, thousands of Israelis living overseas are travelling back to the country to cast their ballots.According to Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics, approximately 810,000 eligible Israeli voters live abroad.&nbsp;The political impact of their participation will depend on how they vote and how those ballots affect the distribution of seats among parties.&nbsp;<h2>Election security and the challenge of misinformation</h2>The preparations come amid heightened political sensitivities and concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.Israel’s police chief has pledged a full deployment to protect election integrity, while the Central Elections Committee has been dealing with complaints about campaign conduct and the use of digital content.Reports ahead of the vote indicate that the committee has received more than 276 petitions related to the election campaign, substantially more than in the 2022 election. The complaints have highlighted the challenges of regulating political messaging in an environment increasingly shaped by social media and artificial intelligence-generated material.The committee’s election-integrity inspectors are tasked with observing proceedings, documenting incidents and reporting suspected irregularities. Their role is to help ensure that voting and counting are conducted in accordance with the law.The use of monitoring cameras forms part of this wider oversight effort.&nbsp;<h2>What is at stake in Israel’s election?</h2>The election is the first national parliamentary vote since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack and the wars that followed. The campaign has been shaped by questions about national security, political accountability and the future direction of the country.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a challenge from an opposition led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, alongside other political leaders seeking to replace the current government.One of the central issues is accountability for the security failures surrounding October 7. Critics of Netanyahu have called for an independent inquiry into how the attack occurred, while his supporters point to his security experience and leadership during the subsequent regional conflicts.Another major issue is military-service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men. The debate has become increasingly contentious amid repeated reserve mobilisations and demands for a broader sharing of military obligations.Judicial reform, which triggered mass protests in 2023, remains part of the political debate, alongside economic pressures and the cost of prolonged conflict.Although security dominates the campaign, the vote will also test the ability of Israel’s political parties to bridge deep divisions and assemble a governing majority.&nbsp;<h2>How Israel’s election system works</h2>Israel uses a nationwide proportional representation system. Voters select a political party list rather than directly electing the prime minister or choosing an individual representative for a local constituency.The Knesset has 120 seats, and a party list must secure at least 3.25 per cent of the valid vote to qualify for representation.Seats are distributed proportionally among qualifying lists. A party that wins the most seats does not automatically form the government; it must be able to secure the support required for a parliamentary majority.At least 61 seats are needed to command a majority in the Knesset. As a result, coalition negotiations are central to the process of government formation.The election is therefore not simply a contest between individual leaders. It is also a test of which political blocs and smaller parties can assemble enough support to govern.&nbsp;<h2>When will the results be known?</h2>Polling stations are scheduled to open at 7 am and close at 10 pm local time on October 27, subject to different arrangements at certain polling facilities.Exit polls are expected shortly after the main polling stations close. These projections may offer an early indication of the distribution of seats, but they are not official results.The counting process will begin on election night, with preliminary figures expected to emerge as ballots are counted. The picture may remain uncertain until additional ballots have been processed, particularly where party lists are close to the 3.25 per cent electoral threshold.The final distribution of seats will determine the starting point for negotiations among political parties. Even after the results become clearer, forming a government could take weeks as parties negotiate the terms of a coalition.<h2>Beyond election day</h2>For Israel, the significance of this election extends beyond the immediate question of who wins the largest share of seats.The vote comes at a time of continuing debate over security, the consequences of October 7, military obligations, judicial reform and the country’s relationship with the wider world.For the Central Elections Committee, the immediate challenge is to conduct the vote in an orderly, accessible and properly supervised manner. For the political parties, the task will be to translate votes into seats and seats into a coalition capable of governing.The results will determine the composition of the next Knesset. The political negotiations that follow will determine who can command its support — and lead Israel into its next phase.

More than 7.3 million voters are eligible to cast their ballots as the country confronts questions of security, accountability and its future direction.

JERUSALEM, Oct 26 - Israel is gearing up for a crucial parliamentary election on October 27, with preparations underway across the country to facilitate voting, monitor the process and count ballots. From polling stations and ballot boxes to election-integrity inspectors, the preparations involve a nationwide administrative operation ahead of a vote that could determine the country’s political direction. At the centre of the preparations is Israel’s Central Elections Committee, the independent statutory institution responsible for administering elections to the Knesset, the country’s 120-member parliament. During a visit to the committee in Jerusalem, WION reviewed the scale of the arrangements being put in place for election day, including the deployment of personnel, the distribution of voting materials and safeguards designed to oversee the electoral process. According to figures released by the committee, approximately 7.3 million Israelis are eligible to vote. The country will have 12,018 polling stations and 18,000 ballot boxes, while around 100,000 personnel are expected to be on duty on election day. The committee’s election budget stands at 690 million Israeli shekels, highlighting the scale of the logistical exercise. 450 million ballot slips and thousands of monitoring cameras The preparations extend far beyond setting up polling booths. The Central Elections Committee says it has printed approximately 450 million ballot slips, with around 11.5 million slips allocated to each party list. The process involves approximately 250 tonnes of paper. Around 15,000 cameras are also being deployed for election-integrity inspectors to document voting and report potential irregularities. The committee’s presentation lists 6,209 accessible polling stations, including 3,621 designated as specially accessible stations. These arrangements are intended to help voters with disabilities exercise their right to vote. Training is another major component of the operation. Approximately 50,000 trainees are expected to participate in around 2,140 training sessions, according to the figures presented by the committee. The aim is to ensure that polling stations are staffed, voting procedures are followed and ballots are handled under established electoral rules. Free transport and access to polling stations Getting voters to their designated polling stations is another part of the preparations. The committee’s presentation lists free travel on 660 intercity public transport routes on election day, including Israel Railways services. The arrangements are intended to facilitate access for eligible voters who need to travel to cast their ballots. Israel generally requires citizens to vote in person at designated polling stations. Absentee voting is limited to specific categories, meaning most Israelis living overseas cannot simply cast their ballots from abroad. In another significant aspect of this election, thousands of Israelis living overseas are travelling back to the country to cast their ballots. According to Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics, approximately 810,000 eligible Israeli voters live abroad. The political impact of their participation will depend on how they vote and how those ballots affect the distribution of seats among parties. Election security and the challenge of misinformation The preparations come amid heightened political sensitivities and concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. Israel’s police chief has pledged a full deployment to protect election integrity, while the Central Elections Committee has been dealing with complaints about campaign conduct and the use of digital content. Reports ahead of the vote indicate that the committee has received more than 276 petitions related to the election campaign, substantially more than in the 2022 election. The complaints have highlighted the challenges of regulating political messaging in an environment increasingly shaped by social media and artificial intelligence-generated material. The committee’s election-integrity inspectors are tasked with observing proceedings, documenting incidents and reporting suspected irregularities. Their role is to help ensure that voting and counting are conducted in accordance with the law. The use of monitoring cameras forms part of this wider oversight effort. What is at stake in Israel’s election? The election is the first national parliamentary vote since the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack and the wars that followed. The campaign has been shaped by questions about national security, political accountability and the future direction of the country. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a challenge from an opposition led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, alongside other political leaders seeking to replace the current government. One of the central issues is accountability for the security failures surrounding October 7. Critics of Netanyahu have called for an independent inquiry into how the attack occurred, while his supporters point to his security experience and leadership during the subsequent regional conflicts. Another major issue is military-service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men. The debate has become increasingly contentious amid repeated reserve mobilisations and demands for a broader sharing of military obligations. Judicial reform, which triggered mass protests in 2023, remains part of the political debate, alongside economic pressures and the cost of prolonged conflict. Although security dominates the campaign, the vote will also test the ability of Israel’s political parties to bridge deep divisions and assemble a governing majority. How Israel’s election system works Israel uses a nationwide proportional representation system. Voters select a political party list rather than directly electing the prime minister or choosing an individual representative for a local constituency. The Knesset has 120 seats, and a party list must secure at least 3.25 per cent of the valid vote to qualify for representation. Seats are distributed proportionally among qualifying lists. A party that wins the most seats does not automatically form the government; it must be able to secure the support required for a parliamentary majority. At least 61 seats are needed to command a majority in the Knesset. As a result, coalition negotiations are central to the process of government formation. The election is therefore not simply a contest between individual leaders. It is also a test of which political blocs and smaller parties can assemble enough support to govern. When will the results be known? Polling stations are scheduled to open at 7 am and close at 10 pm local time on October 27, subject to different arrangements at certain polling facilities. Exit polls are expected shortly after the main polling stations close. These projections may offer an early indication of the distribution of seats, but they are not official results. The counting process will begin on election night, with preliminary figures expected to emerge as ballots are counted. The picture may remain uncertain until additional ballots have been processed, particularly where party lists are close to the 3.25 per cent electoral threshold. The final distribution of seats will determine the starting point for negotiations among political parties. Even after the results become clearer, forming a government could take weeks as parties negotiate the terms of a coalition. Beyond election day For Israel, the significance of this election extends beyond the immediate question of who wins the largest share of seats. The vote comes at a time of continuing debate over security, the consequences of October 7, military obligations, judicial reform and the country’s relationship with the wider world. For the Central Elections Committee, the immediate challenge is to conduct the vote in an orderly, accessible and properly supervised manner. For the political parties, the task will be to translate votes into seats and seats into a coalition capable of governing. The results will determine the composition of the next Knesset. The political negotiations that follow will determine who can command its support — and lead Israel into its next phase.

More than 7.3 million voters are eligible to cast their ballots as the country confronts questions of security, accountability and its future direction.

Israel elections 2026: How the country is gearing up for a crucial vote

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday, October 25, that Iran and its allies might try to disrupt the upcoming Israeli election on Tuesday, October 27. The Prime Minister issued the statement in a pre-recorded video.“We have intelligence signs that our enemies, Iran and its proxies, could challenge us with attacks in order to disrupt the elections,” Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video released by his office.“I warn them,” he continued. “Don’t test us. You will suffer disproportionate blows.” He warned that the IDF was ready for both defensive and offensive operations.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">בסוללת חץ - האויבים שלנו יודעים שאנחנו מוכנים היטב בהגנה ובהתקפה. https://t.co/vnyDowm8gt&mdash; Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) <a href="https://x.com/netanyahu/status/2114379602894127419?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2026</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Benjamin Netanyahu has built his entire re-election campaign around his hawkish national security record. According to a Maariv poll conducted by Lazar Research, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition are trailing at 41% the opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot at 49%. The same Maariv poll found former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett ahead of Netanyahu, 45% to 43%.Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kerala-judge-son-mercedes-scooter-rider-killed-cheranalloor-1792943239264">Kerala judge's 17-year-old son allegedly driving Mercedes kills scooter rider</a>Netanyahu is framing himself as strong, capable of leading Israel through the military conflict in Iran. He framed opponents as “weak”. Likud party billboards erected across cities like Bnei Brak feature Netanyahu against a backdrop of opposition leaders with the stark slogan "Right or Palestine". Earlier today, Netanyahu posted an image of a bomb with a mushroom cloud engulfing the skylines, framing Iran as an “existential danger”. &nbsp;A day earlier, he posted a video of himself in front of a fighter jet speaking to US President Donald Trump by phone, saying they would "finish the job" togetherAccording to a report from the New York Times and the Financial Times, Trump and Netanyahu are planning to drop the “Mother of all bombs”, the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast, in Iran, but they remain divided on the timing. Trump called it a mini nuclear bomb with a lethal blast radius equivalent to roughly nine city blocks. The Pentagon and the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) have developed plans for an intensive 3-day campaign. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has aggressively pushed for the strike to happen before Israel’s October 27 election, specifically during the weekend of October 10. However, Trump had vetoed it and had stated that there would be no Iran strikes ahead of the midterms.

Benjamin Netanyahu claims Iran and its proxies could try to disrupt Israel's October 27 election with attacks, warning of a forceful response.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Sunday, October 25, that Iran and its allies might try to disrupt the upcoming Israeli election on Tuesday, October 27. The Prime Minister issued the statement in a pre-recorded video. “We have intelligence signs that our enemies, Iran and its proxies, could challenge us with attacks in order to disrupt the elections,” Benjamin Netanyahu said in a video released by his office. “I warn them,” he continued. “Don’t test us. You will suffer disproportionate blows.” He warned that the IDF was ready for both defensive and offensive operations.

Benjamin Netanyahu claims Iran and its proxies could try to disrupt Israel's October 27 election with attacks, warning of a forceful response.

Netanyahu claims Iran could disrupt Israel election, threatens 'disproportionate blows'

The next Prime Minister of Israel will be determined on October 27 after the vote is done. The election will decide who remains in power: Benjamin Netanyahu, Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid or Mansour Abbas. As per the polls, neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition has a clear path to the 61 seats needed to form a government. This election marks the first since the Hamas-led attack took place on October 7, 2023, which is also widely viewed as a referendum on Netanyahu’s handling of the attack and the wars that followed. Voters are going to elect the 120 members of the 26th Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Major highlights of the election include October 7 security failures, the cost of living, and Israel’s standing abroad. Netanyahu’s bloc is in coalition with far-right parties, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit, and ultra-Orthodox parties such as Shas and United Torah Judaism. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionist Party is also a key ally of the PM, forming the governing bloc.<h3>Who can win the election?</h3>In this political battle, Netanyahu is not alone. The centre-right Yashar party's Gadi Eisenkot and the centre-right Beyahad's Naftali Bennett can give tough competition. The recent polls indicate that Gadi Eisenkot is neck-and-neck with, or leading, Netanyahu in head-to-head matchups for prime minister. Bennett has also polled closely against Netanyahu for the same post. According to data from Polymarket cited on September 8, 2026, Gadi Eisenkot held a projected 51 per cent chance of becoming the next prime minister compared to Benjamin Netanyahu's 28 per cent. &nbsp;Recent poll tracking reported by The Times of Israel and broadcast summaries indicate the bloc of Jewish opposition parties is projected to win roughly 54 seats, while Netanyahu's right-wing and ultra-Orthodox coalition bloc is projected at around 48 to 49 seats. Because the magic number for a parliamentary majority in the 120-member Knesset is 61, neither camp has a guaranteed path to a clear majority on its own. Arab-majority parties (projected at around 13 seats) and potential unity-government negotiations (favoured by 60 per cent of respondents in a late-October Maariv poll) will likely dictate the outcome.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-midterms-countdown-record-ad-spending-costliest-senate-races-and-top-battlegrounds-1792914884827">US midterms countdown: Record ad spending, costliest Senate races and top battlegrounds</a><h3>Alliance with parties</h3>If Netanyahu wants to form the government for the next term, then he would need support from his right-wing, far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies, while the opposition would have to find partners beyond its core parties. Arab-led parties could end up holding the balance of power, yet mainstream opposition figures have shied away from bringing them into a coalition, and Netanyahu has gone further, openly criticising the idea of depending on their support. Adding to the complexity, the ultra-Orthodox factions remain at odds with other players over military service exemptions. Forming a government, then, could take several shapes: a broad unity coalition, a deal that brings Arab-led parties into the fold, or ultra-Orthodox backing for a rival coalition arrangement. None of these paths would come without political trade-offs, and if no option materialises, the country could find itself heading back to the polls. &nbsp;

Netanyahu’s bloc is in coalition with far-right parties, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit, and ultra-Orthodox parties such as Shas and United Torah Judaism.

The next Prime Minister of Israel will be determined on October 27 after the vote is done. The election will decide who remains in power: Benjamin Netanyahu, Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid or Mansour Abbas. As per the polls, neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition has a clear path to the 61 seats needed to form a government. This election marks the first since the Hamas-led attack took place on October 7, 2023, which is also widely viewed as a referendum on Netanyahu’s handling of the attack and the wars that followed. Voters are going to elect the 120 members of the 26th Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Major highlights of the election include October 7 security failures, the cost of living, and Israel’s standing abroad. Netanyahu’s bloc is in coalition with far-right parties, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit, and ultra-Orthodox parties such as Shas and United Torah Judaism. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionist Party is also a key ally of the PM, forming the governing bloc. Who can win the election? In this political battle, Netanyahu is not alone. The centre-right Yashar party's Gadi Eisenkot and the centre-right Beyahad's Naftali Bennett can give tough competition. The recent polls indicate that Gadi Eisenkot is neck-and-neck with, or leading, Netanyahu in head-to-head matchups for prime minister. Bennett has also polled closely against Netanyahu for the same post. According to data from Polymarket cited on September 8, 2026, Gadi Eisenkot held a projected 51 per cent chance of becoming the next prime minister compared to Benjamin Netanyahu's 28 per cent. Recent poll tracking reported by The Times of Israel and broadcast summaries indicate the bloc of Jewish opposition parties is projected to win roughly 54 seats, while Netanyahu's right-wing and ultra-Orthodox coalition bloc is projected at around 48 to 49 seats. Because the magic number for a parliamentary majority in the 120-member Knesset is 61, neither camp has a guaranteed path to a clear majority on its own. Arab-majority parties (projected at around 13 seats) and potential unity-government negotiations (favoured by 60 per cent of respondents in a late-October Maariv poll) will likely dictate the outcome. Also read: US midterms countdown: Record ad spending, costliest Senate races and top battlegrounds Alliance with parties If Netanyahu wants to form the government for the next term, then he would need support from his right-wing, far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies, while the opposition would have to find partners beyond its core parties. Arab-led parties could end up holding the balance of power, yet mainstream opposition figures have shied away from bringing them into a coalition, and Netanyahu has gone further, openly criticising the idea of depending on their support. Adding to the complexity, the ultra-Orthodox factions remain at odds with other players over military service exemptions. Forming a government, then, could take several shapes: a broad unity coalition, a deal that brings Arab-led parties into the fold, or ultra-Orthodox backing for a rival coalition arrangement. None of these paths would come without political trade-offs, and if no option materialises, the country could find itself heading back to the polls.

Netanyahu’s bloc is in coalition with far-right parties, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit, and ultra-Orthodox parties such as Shas and United Torah Judaism.

Israel election 2026: Who will be next PM — Will Netanyahu survive his toughest test yet? EXPLAINED

Israel's political landscape is entering a crucial phase as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces one of the toughest elections of his career. With Knesset elections approaching, questions are mounting over whether Netanyahu can retain power or if Israel is on the verge of a major political transition.

The report examines how the recent war, shifting public opinion, strained perceptions of Netanyahu's relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, and the rise of challenger Gadi Eisenkot are reshaping Israel's political battlefield.

 The Verdict: Netanyahu's Political Future Is a Grim One | Wion News 

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israel election-2026

Israel elections 2026: How the country is gearing up for a crucial vote

Netanyahu claims Iran could disrupt Israel election: 'Don’t test us'

Who will be next PM — Will Netanyahu survive his toughest test yet? EXPLAINED

The Verdict: Netanyahu's Political Future Is a Grim One | Wion News