Israel votes next week: can Netanyahu continue to govern?
The 27 October election centres on security, war and the question of which coalition might be possible afterwards.
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Israel goes to the polls on 27 October for an election seen as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The result will not directly determine who becomes prime minister: parties must then form a workable coalition again.
The election for the 26th Knesset is scheduled for Tuesday 27 October. This has been set by the Israeli government. All 120 parliamentary seats are at stake; it remains uncertain which coalition might be possible afterwards.
Netanyahu is once again leading Likud’s campaign. His position is being assessed against the backdrop of the Hamas attack in October 2023 and the wars that followed in Gaza, Lebanon and with Iran. According to the Associated Press, voters also see the election as a judgement on his security policy and political leadership.
Netanyahu currently governs Israel with a coalition of Likud, right-wing nationalist parties and ultra-Orthodox parties. That bloc is among the most right-wing governments Israel has had in decades. A significant part of the campaign is therefore not only about Netanyahu himself, but also about whether his current partners will retain their influence.
On the other side, there is no fully united opposition bloc. Reuters reported that Arab political leaders are calling for higher turnout among Arab Israelis. That group makes up roughly a fifth of the population, but has traditionally had lower turnout. Greater participation could affect the distribution of seats and therefore coalition-building.
Gadi Eisenkot is regarded as one of the prominent leaders of the anti-Netanyahu camp. Even if Netanyahu’s party wins the most seats, that does not mean he will become prime minister again. Israel’s electoral system has no separate election for prime minister; the outcome will depend on negotiations between the parties.
The result matters to the Netherlands and Europe because the future government will influence the war in Gaza, relations with Palestinians and Arab neighbouring countries, and cooperation with the United States. The sources do show which issues and power blocs are currently central, but they do not reliably predict who will ultimately be able to form a coalition.
The election campaign is also marked by increasingly strident political language. The Associated Press described a rise in extreme statements within and around government politics. The consequences of the result for Israel’s domestic and foreign policy will depend partly on the coalition formed afterwards.
Also show the region and a close-up
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Israel will elect a new Knesset on 27 October.
- Benjamin Netanyahu leads Likud and is campaigning to retain his position of power.
- The current coalition consists of Likud, right-wing nationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties.
- The opposition is divided among several parties.
- Higher turnout among Arab Israelis could affect the distribution of seats.
Left
Arguments A change of government offers the best chance of placing greater emphasis on the rule of law, equal civil rights and a political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. According to this current, the present coalition has used security too much to push accountability and minority rights into the background.
Values Equal rights, protection of institutions, civil liberties and international legal norms.
Consequences Continuing the current coalition could deepen polarisation and increase Israel’s international isolation; a new direction could instead cause instability within the coalition.
Centre
Arguments The first priority is a stable government that combines security, the hostages, recovery and governmental accountability. No camp has an automatic mandate for major changes of direction; compromises between parties will remain necessary.
Values Governmental stability, security, institutional continuity and workable policy.
Consequences A broad coalition could temper polarisation, but would require concessions that could slow decision-making on Gaza, the budget and relations between religion and the state.
Right
Arguments Netanyahu and his allies stress that Israel is operating in an exceptional security environment and that a strong, united government is necessary. According to this view, a government dependent on Arab or left-wing parties could weaken national security and Israel’s negotiating position.
Values National security, Jewish national sovereignty, order and governmental decisiveness.
Consequences Continuing the current course could make security policy more predictable for supporters, but according to critics it would increase international pressure and domestic tensions.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The core facts have been confirmed by Israeli government information and recent reporting by AP and Reuters. Predictions about coalition-building are explicitly presented as uncertain.
- confirmed Israel’s election for the 26th Knesset will take place on 27 October 2026. — Listed in the official election calendar of the Israeli government. source
- confirmed The election will determine all 120 seats in the Knesset. — The Knesset is the 120-seat parliament; AP describes the election for the 26th Knesset. source
- confirmed Benjamin Netanyahu leads Likud and is prime minister. — Confirmed in AP reporting on the election. source
- confirmed Arab Israelis make up roughly a fifth of the population and traditionally have lower turnout. — Reuters describes both points in its reporting on the election campaign. source
- confirmed Gadi Eisenkot is a prominent leader of the anti-Netanyahu camp. — Reuters refers to an opposition bloc led by Eisenkot. source
- confirmed The election campaign is marked by increasingly extreme political language. — That is the central finding of recent AP reporting. source
Editor's note
The election date, Netanyahu’s role, the coalition’s composition and the importance of Arab turnout are certain. The sources provide no reliable basis for predicting the eventual prime minister.Sources
- A look at key parties in Israel’s Oct. 27 election — Associated Press
- Arab voter turnout could make or break Netanyahu in Israeli election — Reuters
- Elections for the 26th Knesset — Government of Israel
- In their own words: Israeli politicians’ extreme speech surges ahead of elections — Associated Press
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „israël verkiezingen”
- NOS — „israël verkiezingen”
- Het Parool — „israël verkiezingen”