Israel sets date for general election.
The Israeli Knesset (Parliament) has officially announced that the national general election will be held on October 27, 2026. This is considered the latest date stipulated by Israeli law.
According to an announcement from the Knesset, the legislature is expected to end its current term on July 17th. This event marks the first time in decades that a ruling coalition in Israel has completed its full four-year term without declaring early dissolution to hold early elections.
Observers believe that the vote at the end of October will become a referendum on the leadership capabilities of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
At 76 years old, the longest-serving Prime Minister in Israeli history declared his determination to win and remain in power. However, recent opinion polls show his approval rating has plummeted from over 40% in early March to less than 30% in June.
Netanyahu's current government is facing a wave of public discontent over security breaches following the October 7, 2023 attack, as well as the terms of the ceasefire agreement with Iran from late February, which is seen as unfavorable to Tel Aviv.
The race for the Israeli prime minister's seat this year is expected to see fierce competition from strong contenders from the opposition and the moderate right wing.
Among them, the most prominent is former Chief of General Staff of the Army Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the newly formed Yashar party.
Right behind them are former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who has formed an alliance with opposition leader Yair Lapid, and former Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu party.
