Israel Elections

Opposition bloc continues to hold 61 seat majority as Bennett's party gains on Likud - poll

Responding to the poll, Opposition leader Yair Lapid said the results show that “reality is stronger than all attempts at brainwashing.”

|ByMOSHE COHEN
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett attends a Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem, on February 17, 2026.
A man casts his vote in the Israeli general elections, at a polling station in Jerusalem, on November 1, 2022.

One month of war uncertainty leaves Israel’s political map unchanged - poll

The poll further found that 51% of Israelis do not trust US President Donald Trump to end the war with Iran in a way that would preserve Israel’s interests.

|ByMOSHE COHEN
MK Gadi Eisenkot holds a press conference after announcing his resignation in Tel Aviv, July 1, 2025.

Israeli elections: New poll shows Eisenkot gain, Bennett dip, blocs frozen at 60–50

Despite shifts among individual party leaders, the overall balance between the blocs remains unchanged: 60 seats for the opposition and 50 for the coalition.

|ByMOSHE COHEN
Former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett attends a conference at the Academic College in Tel Aviv, January 7, 2026.

Bennett’s poll surge could be pushing him toward Likud, Yesh Atid MK warns

Yesh Atid MK Mickey Levy warns Naftali Bennett’s poll surge is fueled by Lapid voters, not “natural” rising support in his ideology, and cautions a stronger Bennett could ultimately align with Likud.

|By103FM

How Netanyahu made his comeback with help - opinion

After so many years with Netanyahu in Israeli politics, every Israeli has formed a firm opinion of him: a large majority loves him, and a significant and very vocal minority hates him.

NOVEMBER 11, 2022BySRULIK EINHORN
TEN MINUTES before the 10 p.m. exit poll announcements on election night, Benjamin Netanyahu and advisers, including the writer (standing center), consult and anticipate developments.

Netanyahu's comeback: Likud's sweeping victory in Israel's elections

Victory in the election represents a remarkable comeback for Israel’s longest-serving prime minister who had failed to clinch a parliamentary majority in the last four elections.

NOVEMBER 11, 2022ByMARK WEISS
Benjamin Netanyahu and Likud leaders celebrate at party headquarters in Jerusalem on the night of November 1.

A new coalition is coming to Israel: What's the worst that could happen? - opinion

If our concerns and fears signal impending doom, rather than being simply a sign that we need some assistance, what is the point of hope or even prayer?

NOVEMBER 11, 2022ByZAKAI BENCHAIM
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU waves to supporters at Likud headquarters on election night, last week. For the Right, this is a time to show the world that the right hand of God is not of harsh judgment but of love, says the writer.

Will Israel get old responsible Netanyahu or brash with no limits?

INSIDE POLITICS: With no alternate fig leave on his Left, and with a strong and heavy plummet pulling to his Right, the new Netanyahu has no choice but to play the responsible adult by himself.

NOVEMBER 11, 2022ByTAL SHALEV
THE OLD conservative and democratic Netanyahu would have probably thwarted such intentions with one of his leftist partners, but the new Netanyahu has no choice but to be the left-wing arrow himself.

Radicals with 'Ben-Gvir Phobia' seek to crash Israel's diplomatic ties - opinion

I am less concerned about the direction of the emerging new government than I am about the hysterical reactions to the possible government by foreign and hard-left observers.

NOVEMBER 11, 2022ByDAVID M. WEINBERG
‘NEW YORK TIMES’ columnist Thomas Friedman receives an honorary doctorate from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 2007. Friedman ‘has completely unmasked himself as a foe of Israel and the Jewish people,’ says the writer.

Will Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir bring Israel back to the Dark Ages? - opinion

Israel's new leaders want to drag us back to the Dark Ages, imposing their beliefs and bigoted views on the rest of us.

NOVEMBER 11, 2022ByANDREA SAMUELS
THE ANNUAL gay pride parade in Tel Aviv takes place, in June. There is a very real possibility that Tel Aviv as a gay capital of the world will soon become a thing of the past, says the writer.

Jordanians see gloomy picture in Netanyahu’s return

Experts say the expected new coalition in Israel will be pulled to the far right, and that unity among Israel’s Arab-majority parties could have prevented this outcome.

NOVEMBER 9, 2022ByDAOUD KUTTAB/THE MEDIA LINE
Israel's President Isaac Herzog and King Abdullah II of Jordan meeting at the COP27 conference in Egypt, November 7, 2022.

Elections are not the end for Israel's struggle with extremism - opinion

Israelis should care more about giving a platform to radicalism because it is dangerous and leads to systemic persecution but we are unlikely to see that in this particular government – at least yet.

NOVEMBER 8, 2022ByEMILY SCHRADER
THOUSANDS TAKE part in last year’s Pride Parade in Jerusalem.

Israel must not let election results undermine foreign policy - opinion

The world Netanyahu faces at the end of 2022 is very different from the one he knew as prime minister two or three years ago.

NOVEMBER 8, 2022ByKSENIA SVETLOVA
THEN-PRIME minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks as his wife Sara receives flowers from Russian President Vladimir Putin as they meet in Moscow, in 2020.

Many Ben-Gvir voters were Bennett voters. Why are they seen as racist? - opinion

Why are those Yamina voters in the 2021 elections, who were then perceived as kosher and legitimate for many in the center-left bloc, now seen as messianic, nationalist and racist?

NOVEMBER 8, 2022ByORI WERTMAN
Head of the Otzma Yehudit Party MK Itamar Ben-Gvir speaks to supporters as the results of the Israeli elections are announced, at the party's campaign headquarters in Jerusalem, November 1, 2022.