38 Parties Submit Final Lists for Upcoming Knesset Elections

The official campaign period for the 26th Knesset elections has begun, with representatives from 38 political parties submitting their final candidate lists by the deadline on Tuesday and Wednesday. This marks the end of the initial phase, moving past potential mergers and coalition scenarios into the direct electoral contest.

The submitted lists include a wide spectrum of political ideologies and parties, ranging from established Likud and Blue and White to smaller factions like "Yashar!" led by Gadi Eisenkot, "The Democrats" headed by Yair Golan, and religious parties such as Shas and United Torah Judaism. Notable figures appearing on these lists include Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for Likud, Benny Gantz for Blue and White, and Avigdor Lieberman for Yisrael Beiteinu.

Other parties submitting lists include the Religious Zionist Party, Otzma Yehudit, the Joint List, Ra'am, and "Am Israel," among many others. Each party has also been assigned its unique Knesset ballot letter, a crucial element for voter recognition on election day.

The submission of these final lists signifies the commencement of the intensive campaign phase, where parties will vie for voter support across the country. The upcoming elections will determine the composition of Israel's next parliament.