2026 Knesset Election: A Victory for the Radical Right Electorate in Israel?

SUMMARY

In the Knesset election of 27 October 2026, the Netanyahu bloc failed to reach a 61-seat majority. This result, however, does not mean that the radical right has declined in Israel. Provisional results show that right-wing, religious Zionist and ultra-Orthodox parties have reached 60 seats, half of the Knesset. Lists headed by leaders from the right, meanwhile, won 72 seats in total. This report assesses the election through the strength of the radical right electorate and the parties that represent it. In this context, the Netanyahu coalition’s loss of its majority stems not from a weakening of the right but from divisions within the right-wing electorate for a variety of reasons. The main causes of this division include the handling of the hostage issue, the failure to conclude the Gaza War in a way that meets voters’ expectations, the military service exemption of young Haredim, developments in foreign policy, Netanyahu’s personal leadership style and the corruption cases in which he is on trial. It should also be noted that Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the opposition bloc, is a former Chief of the General Staff who has described the two-state solution as a mistake and is identified with the “Dahiya doctrine”. It is therefore clear that the radical right’s definitions of domestic and foreign policy also shape the opposition’s stance. This picture means that the election results are no longer a defeat for Netanyahu and provides a strong basis for his return as prime minister.