Monday, October 19th 2026   |

Israel Elections

The final polls are in and Israel’s election is a nail-biter

By MARCY OSTER

JERUSALEM (JTA) — The final polls before Israel’s national election on Tuesday show Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party running either neck-and-neck or up to five seats behind upstart challenger Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party.

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Netanyahu campaign ad: A dis of Obama or show of strength on Israel’s security?

By MARCY OSTER

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu trying to convince the Israeli public of his national security bona fides? Or is he taking a cheap shot at Barack Obama?

Two weeks before Israelis go to...

Israel’s Supreme Court bars far-right candidate Michael Ben-Ari from national elections

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s Supreme Court voted to disqualify Michael Ben Ari, head of the far-right Jewish Strength or Otzma Yehudit Party from running in national elections over his racism and racist incitement.

The court decided on Monday by a...

A beginner’s guide to the 2019 Israeli elections

(JTA) — Trying to understand the upcoming Israeli elections can get confusing.

The country’s longtime prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is mired in a series of corruption scandals and facing a serious challenge from a new rival. Other politicians are maneuvering...

Newcomer Avi Gabbay wins election to lead Israeli Labor party

(JTA) — Avi Gabbay will lead Israel’s Labour party after defeating his opponent in the second round of primaries.

On Monday evening, Gabbay, who switched to the center-left Labor party several months ago from Kulanu, a smaller center-right party, won...

Dichter to challenge Netanyahu

By YONI ARIEL

Avi Dichter, a Knesset member (MK- Likud) and chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, has announced he is a candidate to be the Likud’s next candidate for prime minister, irrespective of whether Netanyahu runs...

Ya’alon throws hat into Israeli PM race

By YONI ARIEL

Former Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon has announced he intends to form a new political party and run for prime minister in the next elections. He made the announcement yesterday at a “Shabbat-Tarbut” event at Tel Aviv’s Habimah...

Newly elected Arab Knesset members meet with Abbas in Ramallah

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Four members of Israel’s Joint Arab List elected to the Knesset met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank.

Ayman Odeh, the Arab-Israeli party’s leader, headed the delegation that visited  the Muquata, the P.A.’s...

Zionist Union head Isaac Herzog calls Netanyahu to concede

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Zionist Union head Isaac Herzog called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and conceded defeat in Israel’s national elections.

On Wednesday morning, Herzog told reporters outside his home that he spoke by phone with Netanyahu and “congratulated him on...

Official election returns give Likud more decisive margin of victory

(JTA) — Official Israeli election returns showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party heading toward a decisive victory over Zionist Union.

Election returns that came in just before dawn showed Likud taking 29 seats over Zionist Union’s 24, according to...