Israeli Parliament Set for Major Overhaul, Russian-Speaking Representation May Plummet

The upcoming 26th Knesset elections are poised to bring about a significant transformation in Israel's political landscape, with nearly 40% of the parliament expected to be comprised of new faces, potentially reaching a historical record of 48 new lawmakers. This substantial renewal is accompanied by a projected sharp decline in the representation of traditional communities, particularly those from the former Soviet Union.

The number of Russian-speaking lawmakers is anticipated to fall dramatically. Currently, seven representatives from this community serve in the Knesset. Projections suggest this number could drop to as few as three in the next parliament: Avigdor Lieberman, Yulia Malinovsky, and Alex Rif of the new "Yashar!" party. Even if Evgeny Sova of the National Democratic Alliance (NDI) secures a seat, the overall representation would be more than halved.

A similar trend is observed for the Ethiopian community, with only Yafa Tebedge from Gadi Eisenkot's party guaranteed a place on a viable list. Other candidates face challenges due to electoral thresholds.

Alongside the reduction in immigrant representation, the Knesset is expected to see a record number of women, potentially reaching 34. However, a significant gender disparity is emerging between political blocs. The "Change Bloc" could see nearly half its members be women (25 out of 54 seats), while parties supporting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have only about 13% women (7 out of 51 seats).

Furthermore, a stark contrast exists in the military backgrounds of candidates. The opposition's "Change Bloc" features prominent figures from security agencies, including former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, ex-Shin Bet head Yoram Cohen, former Mossad deputy chief Ram Ben-Barak, and former Deputy Chief of Staff Yair Golan, along with several retired major generals. In contrast, parties aligned with Netanyahu have few high-ranking former military officials, with retired Brigadier Generals Ofer Winter and Miri Regev being the most senior.