Briefing, October 20, 2026
What changed in Israel's 2026 election that day, in a few sentences. Each sentence links the report it rests on.
Beyond the campaign
Benny Gantz announced his withdrawal from the Knesset election eight days before the vote after his Blue and White party repeatedly polled below the electoral threshold. The ForwardJerusalem Post
Former National Security Council head and Likud member Tzachi Hanegbi announced that he plans to break from his political past and vote for Avigdor Liberman. Jerusalem Post
In a radio interview with Kol Barama, Netanyahu said that arrests of haredi draft evaders are unacceptable and undermine enlistment efforts. Jerusalem Post
Polls
Following Gantz's exit, new polls showed Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar widening its lead over Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud, while neither bloc reached a parliamentary majority without Arab parties. Jerusalem PostHaaretz
Parties and candidates
Netanyahu pledged at a campaign rally in Lod that Itamar Ben-Gvir will serve as a high-ranking minister in his next government. Jerusalem Post
Following President Donald Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu, U.S. Vice President JD Vance declined to back the prime minister, stating he does not get involved in Israeli elections. Jerusalem PostJerusalem Post
Courts and the election committee
Israeli election supervisors stated they have received no instructions to enforce a court ban on turnout-monitoring apps used by Likud, Shas, and United Torah Judaism. Haaretz