Netanyahu and Eisenkot Vie for Prime Minister in Knesset Election Climax
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yesher party, are in a close race for leadership in Israel's 26th Knesset elections. Netanyahu campaigns on continuity and experience, while Eisenkot focuses on government accountability for the October 7th events. Conflicting polls released in late October 2026 show varied predictions for the parties and blocs. The election results, due tonight, will determine if Netanyahu secures a right-wing majority or if the opposition gains ground.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces Gadi Eisenkot in Israel's 26th Knesset election climax.
- Netanyahu campaigns on continuity and experience, Eisenkot on government accountability for October 7th.
- Polls from October 22-23, 2026, show conflicting results for Likud and Yesher.
- Netanyahu received public support from U.S. President Donald Trump.
- Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid have united their parties, also seeking to lead the opposition.
- Election results tonight will reveal if Netanyahu secured a right-wing majority.
Israel is set for a decisive day in the 26th Knesset elections, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of the Likud party facing off against Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yesher party, for the premiership. Netanyahu is campaigning on a platform of continuity, emphasizing his experience in security and government achievements during wartime and internationally. Eisenkot, a former IDF Chief of Staff, is presenting himself as a statecraft alternative, focusing his campaign on the government's handling of the October 7th events and the ongoing war.
Netanyahu's campaign has focused on mobilizing right-wing voters and warning against a government reliant on Arab parties like Ra'am and the Joint List. He has also stressed the importance of smaller parties clearing the electoral threshold. Netanyahu has stated his intention to advance judicial reform and form a right-wing government, recently receiving public support from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Eisenkot has positioned Yesher as a central opposition force, aiming to become the leading candidate to replace Netanyahu. His campaign has criticized the government's responsibility for the October 7th attacks and the war's continuation, advocating for new leadership. He has also appealed to right-wing voters by highlighting his military background.
However, Eisenkot faces competition within the opposition, as Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid have united their parties, also seeking to lead the next government. This means that even if Yesher becomes the largest party, it doesn't guarantee Eisenkot the mandate to form a government.
Polls released between October 22-23, 2026, show conflicting results, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the election outcome. One poll by Channel 14 predicted Likud with 30 seats and Yesher with 20, giving the right-wing bloc 62 seats. Conversely, polls from Channel 12 and Channel 13 showed Yesher leading, with 23 and 22 seats respectively, while Likud received 21 and 19 seats, and Netanyahu's bloc garnered only 50 seats in the Channel 12 poll. The final results, expected later tonight, will indicate whether Netanyahu has secured a majority for his bloc or if Eisenkot and his allies have shifted the balance of power.
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