The key players in Israel’s first election since October 7

Israelis are set to vote on October 27 in the first national elections since the deadly October 7 attacks, and the devastating Gaza war that followed.

The Independent looks at the key figures in the looming election:

James Reynolds26 October 2026 16:06

Good evening and welcome to our coverage of the Israeli election

Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government faces an existential election on Tuesday as voters deliver their verdict three years since the country’s greatest security failure in generations.

The opposition is clustered around centrist former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot. But he and an array of other parties ranging from the rump of the centre-left to the right, also have no clear path to unseat the survivalist Netanyahu.

Follow along for our coverage of the Israeli legislative elections

James Reynolds26 October 2026 16:05