Israel returns to the polls on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, to elect the 120 members of the Knesset, the national Parliament. These are the first legislative elections since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent years of conflicts that have deeply affected the country.
The consultation represents a crucial moment for Benjamin Netanyahu, who is called to defend his leadership after a period marked by internal tensions, military operations, and strong divisions in public opinion.
Challenging him for the leadership of the country is mainly Gadi Eisenkot, former Chief of Staff of the Israeli Armed Forces and president of the Yashar party, who has become one of the main figures of the opposition.
The polls opened at 7 AM, Israeli time, and will remain accessible until 10 PM, corresponding to 9 PM in Italy. Shortly after closing, the first television projections are expected, while the final results will be officially announced on November 4.
Link to Turnout at 16.68% by 10 AM, higher participation than in 2022Turnout at 16.68% by 10 AM, higher participation than in 2022
The first data released by the Central Election Commission indicate significant participation from the early hours of the day. By 10 AM, local time, 16.68% of eligible voters had cast their ballots, equivalent to about 1.2 million people. This figure is 0.78 percentage points higher than that recorded at the same time during the 2022 elections. According to information reported by Israeli media, this is one of the highest levels of participation recorded in the early hours of an election in recent decades.
Even among the military, participation was reported to be higher than in previous elections. The Israeli Armed Forces announced that by 10 AM, 30% of the personnel concerned had already voted, compared to 25.7% in 2022.
Electoral operations within military bases began a week earlier, with the setup of about 850 dedicated polling stations. The increase in turnout could play an important role in a competition that, according to the latest polls, appears particularly balanced.
Link to Netanyahu vs. Eisenkot, polls do not indicate a majorityNetanyahu vs. Eisenkot, polls do not indicate a majority
The main question concerns the possibility that one of the two blocs will manage to secure the 61 seats needed to control the Knesset. The latest available surveys before the polls opened describe a neck-and-neck race between the bloc led by Netanyahu and the opposition, in which Eisenkot holds a central position. According to the forecasts, neither coalition would currently be able to independently achieve an absolute majority.
This scenario could open a complex phase of negotiations between the parties, making the role of smaller formations and their willingness to support a potential new government crucial. Netanyahu, a key figure in Israeli politics for over thirty years and the longest-serving prime minister in the country's history, faces one of the most delicate electoral challenges of his career. Eisenkot, on the other hand, aims to present himself as an alternative capable of rebuilding trust in institutions and overcoming the divisions that have accompanied recent years.
Link to Eisenkot visits Nir Oz kibbutz before heading to the pollsEisenkot visits Nir Oz kibbutz before heading to the polls
Before voting in Ashdod, Gadi Eisenkot chose to visit the Nir Oz kibbutz, one of the Israeli communities most affected by the attacks of October 7, 2023. The former general was accompanied by Gadi Mozes, a survivor of captivity as a hostage, with whom he shared a moment of strong symbolic significance. Eisenkot recalled the hardships faced by the Israeli population and reiterated his commitment to working for the country's reconstruction, emphasizing the need to restore security and trust to citizens.
The visit was one of the most significant events of the electoral morning, bringing the consequences of the 2023 attacks and the management of national security back to the center of the political debate. Subsequently, the opposition leader went to the Ashdod polling station, where he was greeted by numerous supporters.
Link to Herzog votes in Jerusalem and urges Israelis to participateHerzog votes in Jerusalem and urges Israelis to participate
Among the first institutional representatives to go to the polls was Israeli President Isaac Herzog, who voted with his wife Michal at a polling station in the Rehavia neighborhood of Jerusalem. Herzog emphasized the importance of democratic participation, urging citizens to exercise their right to vote and respect the fundamental principles of the institutions.
The president expressed the hope that the election day could take place in a climate of respect and responsibility, despite the deep political divisions that cross the country.
Several party leaders also voted in the early hours of the morning, accompanying their participation in the polls with appeals to their respective voters. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich cast his vote in the Kedumim settlement in the West Bank, urging supporters to mobilize. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also voted in an Israeli settlement in the occupied territories. Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats, presented the consultation as an opportunity to change the country's political direction.
Link to Families of hostages rally in Tel Aviv, call for changeFamilies of hostages rally in Tel Aviv, call for change
The election day is also accompanied by initiatives from the families of the hostages, who gathered in Tel Aviv to make an appeal to the population. Participants urged Israelis to vote for change, demanding justice and a different future after years marked by war.
The issue of hostages and the consequences of the October 7 attacks continues to be one of the most sensitive topics in the Israeli public debate.
Families have long been demanding answers from the institutions and greater attention to the human consequences of the conflict, while the management of national security remains one of the main topics of the election campaign. The vote thus takes place in an emotionally complex climate, where political choices intertwine with the memory of the victims, calls for accountability, and prospects for stability.
Link to Tensions in the West Bank, three Palestinian vehicles set on fireTensions in the West Bank, three Palestinian vehicles set on fire
While voting operations are underway in Israel, reports of new tensions are coming from the West Bank. According to the Palestinian agency Wafa, some Israeli settlers allegedly set fire to three cars in the village of Umm Safa, northwest of Ramallah, on the night before the elections.
The head of the local council, Marwan al-Sabah, reported that the attackers entered the village after midnight, setting the vehicles on fire and leaving racist graffiti on some buildings. The electoral consultation also coincides with a strengthening of Israeli security measures in the West Bank, where roadblocks and restrictions on the movement of the Palestinian population have been reported. According to data reported by the Palestinian administration, military operations have displaced 4,969 people belonging to 780 families.
Particular difficulties have been reported in the Ramallah area, where the closure of several access points and the establishment of checkpoints have hindered circulation. The Wafa agency also reports operations by Israeli forces in some localities in the Jenin area, accompanied by arrests and interrogations.
Link to David Grossman: Israel must rediscover dialogue and hopeDavid Grossman: Israel must rediscover dialogue and hope
On election day, Israeli writer David Grossman also spoke out, expressing concern about the divisions that cross society in an interview with Repubblica. According to Grossman, the country faces a choice that goes beyond the simple alternation between political factions. The writer described a deeply polarized society, where the confrontation between opposing positions risks preventing the construction of a shared perspective.
Grossman called for a return to a democracy based on dialogue, equality, and attention to collective well-being, criticizing a vision of national security based solely on military strength. The writer also expressed concern that the current political climate could further fuel internal divisions and compromise the possibilities of a future peaceful resolution of conflicts.
His words reflect a part of the Israeli cultural debate, in which the October 27 consultation is also considered a decisive step for the country's democratic identity.
Link to How Israeli elections work and when results will be announcedHow Israeli elections work and when results will be announced
Thirty-six lists are participating in the elections, competing for the 120 seats in the Knesset. There are a total of 7,331,981 eligible voters, distributed across 12,018 polling stations. The Israeli system provides for national proportional representation, with a threshold of 3.25%. Voters cast their vote for a party list, not directly for a candidate for prime minister. In smaller localities and some special facilities, such as hospitals and penitentiaries, voting hours are reduced compared to ordinary ones.
After the polls close, scheduled for 10 PM local time, the main television broadcasters will release exit polls. The official proclamation of the results is scheduled for November 4. At that point, the phase of consultations for forming the government will begin. The President of the Republic will assign the task to the leader deemed most capable of securing the support of at least 61 parliamentarians.
The appointed candidate will initially have 28 days to build a majority, with the possibility of obtaining an extension of an additional 14 days. If the attempt fails, the task could be assigned to another political figure. If no solution proves feasible, the country could be called to the polls again.
(Associated Medias) - All rights reserved