Israel to hold national elections on October 27, parliament says
Israel has scheduled national elections for October 27, 2026, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirming his intent to run for another term. The election is expected to serve as a referendum on his leadership during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Why it matters
The upcoming election is a critical political event that will determine the future of Israeli governance and its approach to the regional conflict.
Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has confirmed that he will run for office again.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a cornerstone laying ceremony for the Atarot Heritage Center at an abandon airport in occupied East Jerusalem [File: Ilia Yefimovich/AFP] By Al Jazeera Staff Published On 12 Jul 2026 12 Jul 2026 National elections will be held in Israel on October 27, the latest date legally allowed, with the vote widely viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s leadership since the start of the genocidal war on Gaza.
Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, announced the election date on Sunday. The Knesset is set to hold the final session of its current term on Friday, making Netanyahu’s far-right coalition government the first in half a century to complete a full four-year term.
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