Elections have begun in Israel: Will Netanyahu be able to retain the prime minister's post?
Voting in the parliamentary election began in Israel on October 27. According to polls, the main contest is expected to be between Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and the Yashar party led by Gadi Eizenkot, the former chief of the army general staff.
Elections begin in Israel: Will Netanyahu be able to retain the premiership?
According to Meduza, polling stations opened at 07:00 local time. This is the first Knesset election since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack and the start of the US and Israel's war with Iran in February 2026.
Public opinion polls conducted a few days before the voting showed "Likud" and "Yesh Atid" as the main competitors.
To form a government independently, a party must hold at least 61 seats in the 120-seat parliament. However, according to polls, neither of these two parties will be able to achieve such a result. Therefore, a coalition government is expected to be formed.
Whether "Likud" will be able to lead the coalition and whether Netanyahu will retain the position of Prime Minister will depend on the election results and subsequent negotiations.
A total of 36 parties are participating in the election. To enter the Knesset, they must win at least 3.25 percent of the vote. Polls indicate that 11 to 13 parties could pass this threshold.