Israel Announces Parliamentary Elections Set for October 27 as Netanyahu Eyes Another Term

Local media reported on Sunday that Israel will hold parliamentary elections on October 27, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aiming for another term after several turbulent years dominated by the Gaza conflict.

Although the law mandates the election by October 27, alternative dates had previously been considered.

Polls indicate that neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition is likely to win an outright majority, reflecting Israel’s typical reliance on multi‑party coalitions. Former defense chief Gadi Eisenkot has emerged as the principal challenger to the incumbent in the months leading up to the vote.

Eisenkot’s newly formed centrist party, Yashar! (meaning “Straight!” in Hebrew), is gaining momentum quickly and recently surpassed Netanyahu’s right‑wing Likud in a recent poll, securing the top spot.

At 66, Eisenkot served as Israel’s defense chief from 2015 to 2019 before transitioning to politics. He studied political science at the University of Haifa and is widely regarded as an authority on the Lebanese militia Hezbollah.

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