Israeli lawyer, former Shin Bet officer, current Knesset Speaker and Likud member
Settlers have returned to Kadim, north of Jenin, with around 30 pioneer families arriving under military escort. The reopening follows the 2005 disengagement and signals a broader push to revive four northern West Bank settlements, amid a wider surge in settlement activity under Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government. Palestinian residents fear displacement as tensions rise alongside new outposts and tenders in nearby areas.
Israel’s parties have submitted candidate lists ahead of the 2026 elections. Likud and Religious Zionist Party are among the last to file, while the Joint List also appears on the slate. Polls suggest no single party will secure a majority, and democracy concerns are rising among Israelis amid a shifting political landscape.
A new wave of polls shows no bloc winning a clear 61-seat majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Surveys indicate tightening odds for coalitions and room for potential cross-bloc deals, depending on small party performances ahead of the October vote.
Arab-Israeli voters are mobilising ahead of the October 27 election, with turnout surging among Palestinian citizens of Israel. Polls suggest Arab lists could be kingmakers, potentially shaping whether Netanyahu or Eisenkot leads the next government. The dynamic is redefining coalition math in a deeply divided Israel.
Arab-led parties have surged to a record 19 seats in the Knesset, up from prior records, complicating coalition prospects as Netanyahu faces a fractured field. The opposition bloc may need Arab partners to form a government, while the president will oversee the coalition process.
Opposition leaders have moved to form a Zionist government to oust Netanyahu, with talks focusing on a coalition that could include ultra-Orthodox and Palestinian parties. The plan confronts deep divisions over Palestinian participation and Haredi drafting exemptions, while Arab parties gain unprecedented leverage with 19 seats in the Knesset.