Israeli Election Uncertainty: Key Candidates on the Cusp of Knesset Entry

As the final votes are tallied for the 26th Knesset, the distribution of mandates continues to shift, creating intense personal drama for candidates positioned in precarious spots on their party lists. With results still partial and some ballot boxes uncounted, the final outcome, expected by Thursday evening or Friday morning after the double envelope ballots are processed, will determine who enters the Knesset. Several candidates are currently on the bubble, facing the real possibility of either entering or being excluded from parliament based on the final numbers.

In the Likud party, with 26 mandates currently, Eli Goldschmidt, formerly the chairman of the Labor faction, is in the 26th position. He has been a vocal critic of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Erez Tadmor, who won his primary in the Jerusalem-Judea and Samaria-Shfela district with Netanyahu's backing, is at number 27. Tadmor, a writer and radio host, was previously Netanyahu's speechwriter and a spokesperson for the Likud's information campaign. Shlomo Lerner, a businessman and lawyer who won his primary in the Dan and Tel Aviv district, also with Netanyahu's support, is at number 28. Lerner has proposed that reservists who have served over 40 days should be exempt from taxes. At number 29 is Itzik Bonzel, father of fallen soldier Amit Bonzel, who has become a prominent voice among right-wing bereaved families and advocates for a political, rather than state, inquiry into the October 7th events.

For the Yisrael Beiteinu party, currently projected at seven mandates, MK Hamed Amar is at number seven, and MK Yevgeny Sova is at number eight. Elvira Kolikhman, deputy mayor of Lod, is at number nine. Dan Illouz, who recently left the Likud, is at number ten and may miss out on a Knesset seat.

In the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, with seven mandates, Yehuda Wisfish, an educational entrepreneur, is at number seven. Yaakov Tessler, a representative of the Vizhnitz Hasidic dynasty, is at number eight; he previously served as Deputy Minister of Culture before resigning in protest over the stalled draft exemption law.

Shas, also with seven mandates, has MK Moshe Abutbul at number seven, a former mayor of Beit Shemesh and previously Deputy Minister of Agriculture. MK Uriel Buso, a former Health Minister, is at number eight.

Otzma Yehudit, with seven mandates, places Hananel Dorfman, a former chief of staff to Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, at number seven. Dorfman has been investigated by the Police Internal Investigations Department multiple times. Tzachi Eliyahu, a party activist known for a tattoo of the Kach symbol, is at number eight.

In the Yachad party, with 12 mandates, Bruria Naim Arman, the party's CEO, is at number eleven. MK Ram Ben Barak, former deputy head of the Mossad, is at number twelve and faces the possibility of not entering the Knesset after seven years.

The Joint List, also with 12 mandates, has lawyer Haithem Zghalqa, deputy mayor of Kafr Qara, at number eleven. Eyas Nator, a political and cultural activist, is at number twelve. Jassan Abdullah, an insurance agent and activist, is at number thirteen, and Orly Noy, a journalist and human rights activist, is at number fourteen.

The Democratic party is projected to receive eight mandates, with Michal Rozin, a former MK, at number eight. Moshe Radman Abutbul, a prominent high-tech protest activist against the judicial overhaul, is at number nine.

Ra'am, with six mandates, has Dr. Yasser Hajirat, a former MK, at number six. Ibrahim Al-Touri, a pharmacist and activist, is at number seven.

The Religious Zionism-Identity alliance, with six mandates, places reserve Lieutenant Colonel Itamar Itam, son of former minister Efi Eitam, at number six. MK Tzvi Sukkot is at number seven.