Briefing, October 13, 2026
What changed in Israel's 2026 election that day, in a few sentences. Each sentence links the report it rests on.
Polls
A Channel 12 News poll showed the bloc led by former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot holding at 54 seats, falling short of a 60-seat Knesset majority due to refusal among some allied parties to cooperate with Arab factions. HaaretzJewish Insider
Beyond the campaign
Ben-Gvir refused to sign a surplus vote agreement with Ofer Winter's People of Israel party, calling Winter Bennett II and prompting Winter to accuse him of wasting right-wing votes ahead of the election. Jerusalem PostHaaretz
Winter also accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prioritizing political survival over security by focusing on the electoral threshold rather than reducing trucks entering Gaza. Jerusalem Post
Naftali Bennett unveiled a plan for the B'Yachad party aimed at cutting bureaucracy and increasing support for immigrants. Jerusalem Post
Parties and candidates
According to sources, Haredi parties may refuse to endorse both Netanyahu and Eisenkot, while Avigdor Liberman announced that mandatory universal conscription and an expert-drafted constitution are nonnegotiable conditions for joining a government. Jerusalem PostJerusalem Post
Additionally, United States President Donald Trump stated that he may endorse a candidate in Israel's upcoming election. Haaretz