Israel 2026 Election: Right-Wing Blocs Face Off in Contested Vote

Israelis go to the polls on Tuesday to determine the next government in what officials describe as a pivotal contest for the country’s political direction. This is the first general election since the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza that has resulted in the death of more than 74,000 people.

The race is defined by a shift toward the right across the political spectrum. Benjamin Netanyahu, the longest-serving prime minister in Israeli history, seeks a fourth term. He leads the country’s most right-wing coalition, which unites far-right ultranationalists and ultra-Orthodox parties. His opponents form a Zionist opposition bloc that has largely adopted a similar right-wing stance on national challenges.

Netanyahu faces multiple legal hurdles. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for him on charges of war crimes in Gaza. Domestically, he is undergoing a corruption trial involving charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, all of which he denies. Despite these legal pressures, he remains the central figure in the campaign.

The campaign focused on three primary issues: accountability for the security failures preceding the 2023 attack, the military service requirements for ultra-Orthodox men, and the exclusion of Arab-led parties from potential coalitions. The conflict in Gaza has continued with deadly attacks almost daily, even as a yearlong ceasefire has been in place. In the occupied West Bank, settler violence and military raids have intensified.

Yehouda Shenhav-Shahrabani, an Israeli sociologist, stated that the political system operates within a framework of Jewish supremacy. He argued that no leader presenting themselves as an alternative to Netanyahu can be described as left-wing. According to Shenhav-Shahrabani, the current reality is rooted in Zionist political thought rather than being solely the product of Netanyahu or the far right.

Analysts note that the rightward drift accelerated under Netanyahu’s current government. They point to efforts to strip the Supreme Court of its power to review government actions. The government also defied court rulings regarding the conscription of the ultra-Orthodox minority. Key coalition members, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, supported these judicial changes. These ministers have also provided cover for the surge in violence in the West Bank.

Ahron Bregman, a senior teaching fellow at King’s College London, suggested that a change in leadership would alter the political atmosphere. He described Netanyahu as a divisive figure who inspires deep admiration or hatred among the population. Bregman said a new prime minister would likely calm the domestic environment but emphasized that the overall policy direction would remain right-leaning.

Yossi Mekelberg, a senior fellow at Chatham House, framed the election as a choice between a functioning democracy and a democracy in name only. He noted that the vote also determines whether Israel maintains its occupation of the West Bank or moves toward full annexation, a move some government figures have suggested.

The ballot offers no direct referendum on foreign policy or the war in Gaza. Mainstream candidates have not proposed including Arab-led parties, such as Ra’am or the Joint List, in their coalitions. Shenhav-Shahrabani stated that ultra-Orthodox parties will likely remain in government, while the Arab-led parties, representing one-fifth of the population, will be excluded by a system built on prejudice.

Daniel Levy, a former Israeli government adviser, said the election is not a referendum on the treatment of Palestinians because no party has acknowledged the war in Gaza as a genocide. He noted that differences among Zionist parties rest on whether the state or settler militias should play the primary role in oppressing Palestinians.