Hendel and Zelekha Party Falls Short of Knesset Threshold as Vote Count Continues

The vote count from Israel's 2026 elections is ongoing, with preliminary results showing the "Reservists and Economic" party, led by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha, currently failing to pass the electoral threshold. As of Wednesday afternoon, the party had garnered approximately 117,000 votes, representing 2.67% of the total, falling tens of thousands of votes short of the required percentage for Knesset entry.

However, the final outcome remains uncertain as the counting of "double envelopes" is scheduled to begin Wednesday night and conclude Thursday evening. This process involves approximately 600,000 ballots cast by Israelis in specific categories, including soldiers and security forces, medical personnel on duty, hospitalized individuals, diplomats, and other foreign service employees serving abroad. These voters are eligible to cast ballots outside their designated polling stations.

The term "double envelope" in Israel refers to a legal and routine voting procedure, officially termed "external envelope." In this system, a voter places their ballot in a standard anonymous envelope, which is then placed inside an outer envelope containing identifying information. The Central Elections Committee uses this method to verify voter eligibility and prevent duplicate voting while maintaining ballot secrecy.

The mechanism is necessary because certain groups, such as soldiers, hospitalized patients, prisoners, and overseas envoys, are permitted to vote at locations where their names are not listed in the voter registry. The external envelope ensures that these votes are held pending verification that the voter has not cast a ballot elsewhere, thus upholding both the integrity of the vote and its secrecy.