Gantz and Smotrich Receive Millions in Election Funding Despite Poll Struggles
Recent polls indicate that both the National Unity party led by Benny Gantz and the Religious Zionism party headed by Bezalel Smotrich are failing to cross the electoral threshold. Nevertheless, they are set to receive substantial election funding advances: 11.7 million shekels for Gantz and 10.2 million shekels for Smotrich. If these parties fail to enter the Knesset, there is concern that these funds could become unrecoverable debts. Both parties have stated their intention to accept the full funding advances available to them, with National Unity also actively raising donations.
Yesh Atid, led by Yair Lapid, is expected to receive an election funding advance of 35.2 million shekels, despite polls forecasting a drop in its Knesset seats from 24 to 15 (including Naftali Bennett). In such a scenario, the party would receive about 29 million shekels in funding and would need to take a loan from the Knesset, pledging half of its regular party funding in the next term to repay it.
Ahead of the September 8 deadline for submitting party lists to the Elections Committee, parties are entering a critical final phase of the campaign, requiring significant financial resources. Incumbent parties will receive a total of 175 million shekels in funding advances next week, while new parties are expected to receive around 35 million shekels, totaling approximately 210 million shekels in advances. The overall election funding budget is estimated at about a quarter of a billion shekels.
The amount of the advance is based on the number of Knesset seats held by each party in the outgoing Knesset. A law passed in July 2026 increased the funding unit by 12% to 1.835 million shekels per MK, with advances set at 80% of this amount, currently 1.468 million shekels per MK for incumbent parties. New parties can receive advances up to 18.3 million shekels, contingent on presenting bank guarantees.
Gadi Eizenkot, chairman of Yisrael LeYisrael, has secured guarantees totaling 16.6 million shekels and donations of about 2 million shekels, though his party has not yet decided whether to take the maximum advance. His party polls at 25 seats, which would entitle it to about 45.8 million shekels in total funding. Prior to merging with Yesh Atid, the party Beitach led by Naftali Bennett raised 33 million shekels in credit guarantees, of which 10 million shekels have been used.
Likud, with 32 seats, will receive an advance of 46.8 million shekels. Recently launched "Amcha Israel" party, led by Ofer Winter, received guarantees totaling 3.225 million shekels and loans including 200,000 shekels from Discount Bank. Other new parties failing to cross the threshold are also raising guarantees to secure funding advances. Gilad Erdan's Achdut party raised about 3 million shekels in guarantees, and the Reservists party led by Yoaz Hendel and Hili Tropper raised 1.6 million shekels, including from hedge fund manager Yonatan Helf of ION.
