Israeli political parties have finalized their candidate lists for the October 27 general election, considered one of the most important in the country's history.
So far, the campaign has primarily revolved around Netanyahu and Eisenkot, but polls show neither has secured a majority, making it difficult to predict who will become the next prime minister.
It is expected that about a dozen parties will cross the threshold to enter the 120-seat parliament.
Main Competitors:
1. Likud Party
Party Affiliation: The largest conservative party in history; increasingly populist.
Leader: Benjamin Netanyahu, 76 years old
This election is seen as a "referendum" on Netanyahu. He has been heavily criticized for failing to deliver on his promise of a "complete victory" in the war, for not taking responsibility for security failures before the October 7, 2023 attacks, for granting military exemptions to ultra-Orthodox supporters, and for judicial reforms, yet he still vows to "complete" the military operation and prevent Palestinian statehood.
2. Yashar (literally "Honest" or "Straightforward")
Party Affiliation: A new party targeting centrist and center-right voters, primarily appealing to those concerned about the direction Netanyahu's ruling coalition is taking Israel.
Leader: Gadi Eisenkot, 66 years old
Eisenkot, former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces and a member of Netanyahu's wartime cabinet, is now Netanyahu's strongest rival. He advocates for an investigation into government negligence before the October 7 attacks and for limiting settlement expansion in the West Bank.
Other Major Opposition Parties
1. B'Yachad (literally "Together")
Party Affiliation: A centrist alliance between the Future Party and right-wing nationalist Naftali Bennett.
Leader: Naftali Bennett, 54 years old
In 2021, Bennett and Lapid briefly ended Netanyahu's rule. This year, the two have reunited to form an anti-Netanyahu camp, advocating for expanding ultra-Orthodox recruitment and an investigation into the October 7 attacks.
2. Yisrael Beiteinu (literally "Israel is Our Home")
Party Affiliation: Secular right-wing party with a hardline security stance; it has broken with Netanyahu.
Leader: Avigdor Lieberman, 68 years old.
Founded in 1999, the party initially represented political figures from former Soviet immigrants, later expanding its support base by defending Israel's secular Jewish identity and curbing the influence of ultra-Orthodox rabbis.
3. The Democrats
Party Affiliation: Formed by the merger of two traditional left-wing parties.
Leader: Yair Golan, 64 years old
Golan was a former Major General in the Israel Defense Forces. In 2024, he formed the Democrats by integrating the Labor Party and the Merets Party. The party supports the "two-state solution" and advocates for a free, secular Jewish state.
Other Major Pro-Netanyahu Parties
1. Otzma Yehudit
Party Affiliation: Far-right, extreme nationalist, and anti-Arab party.
1. **Leader:** Itamar Ben-Gwer, 50 years old.
Ben-Gwer leads a far-right nationalist party that advocates for "voluntary migration" of Palestinians and has been internationally condemned for its anti-Arab stance.
2. **Religious Zionism:**
Party type: Far-right, extreme nationalist party that advocates for expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Leader: Bezalel Smotridge, 46 years old.
Smotridge leads a far-right party that advocates for expanding West Bank settlements and supports a permanent Israeli occupation and re-settlement in Gaza.
3. **Amcha Yisrael:** A right-wing party that supports Netanyahu but opposes granting military service exemptions to ultra-Orthodox Jews. Its leader is former Brigadier General Ofer Winter, who advocates encouraging "voluntary migration" of Palestinians from Gaza.
4. **Shas:** Represents ultra-Orthodox Jews from the Middle East and North Africa and is a key ally of Netanyahu. The party, led by Ariyah Delhi, has expanded its support base to include more secular Middle Eastern and North African voters.
5. United Torah Judaism: Composed of two parties representing different extreme Orthodox denominations, it primarily defends the religious lifestyle of Haredi Jews. The party has long supported Netanyahu, but relations between the two have become increasingly tense in recent years.
Arab Political Parties
1. Raam: An Islamist party advocating for coexistence between Arabs and Jews. It joined the ruling coalition in 2021 and is led by Mansour Abbas.
2. The Joint List: Composed of three parties representing Palestinian citizens in Israel, it aims to unite Arab voters and expand parliamentary representation.
