On 27 October 2026, Israelis vote for the 120-seat Knesset in an election shaped by national security, the war in Gaza, the cost of living, ultra-Orthodox military conscription and demands for government accountability. Forming a government requires a parliamentary majority of at least 61 seats. This series introduces 14 electoral lists and their lead candidates: Gadi Eisenkot (Yashar!), Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud), Naftali Bennett (Together, alongside Yair Lapid), Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionism–Zehut), Itamar Ben-Gvir (Otzma Yehudit), Aryeh Deri (Shas), Yaakov Asher (United Torah Judaism), Avigdor Lieberman (Yisrael Beiteinu), Mansour Abbas (Ra’am), Yousef Jabareen (Joint List), Yair Golan (The Democrats), Yoaz Hendel (Reservists–New Economic Party), Ofer Winter (Amcha Yisrael) and Moti Leitner (HaTzibbur HaCharedi). The parties span centrist and liberal-Zionist movements, nationalist and religious conservatives, secular right-wing groups, Haredi representatives and Arab political lists. Their differences concern the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, the role of religion in public life, economic priorities, conscription and democratic institutions. Positions also vary within electoral alliances. The accompanying chart presents a Channel 13 poll from 23 October, based on 1,875 respondents. It projects 22 seats for Yashar!, 19 for Likud and 14 for Together. The figures are projected parliamentary seats—not vote shares—while percentages identify parties below the 3.25% electoral threshold. These are pre-election estimates, not actual results, and coalition arithmetic may change after votes are counted. These summaries describe broad political positions rather than official party manifestos. Portraits have been digitally enhanced. #israel #netanyahu #palestine #election #gaza - @forum.europaeum