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Is Israel’s Upcoming Election a Point of No Return from Extremism?

H. Scott Prosterman, Informed Comment, 09/04/2026

Israelis will go to the polls on October 27, for one of the most consequential elections in their history. Not unlike the upcoming 2026 midterms in the U.S., it is essentially a referendum on democracy. This is neither a hyperbolic nor dramatic assessment, as PM Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened the legitimacy of Israel’s independent judiciary, and worked to undermine opposition candidates and parties to gthe point of irrelevancy. The parallels to convicted felon Donald Trump’s actions in the U.S. are inescapable, as both leaders have fueled one another’s efforts to remain in office to avoid legal consequences for their numerous criminal activities against their own people.

Netanyahu’s most formidable challengers are former General Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar (Straight) Party, and the Beyachad (Together) Party, headed by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. Recent polling projects 22 seats each for Yashar and Likud, which is a long way from the 61 seats in the Knesset or parliament necessary to form a government. Herein lies a sticky dilemma: In order to form a government, the winner needs to bring one or more of the Arab parties into their coalition, along with others. Thus far, Yashar’s success at this inclusion works against them with the Israeli far right……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Whoever comes out on top on October 27 will have 28 days to form a government, though a 14-day extension can occur if none is formed. The Knesset has 120 seats to mirror the last Great Assembly of the Second Temple, which also had that number. Israel recaptured the remaining wall (the “Wailing Wall”) of the Second Temple in the 1967 War. At the conclusion of the 1967 War, Foreign Minister Abba Eban allegedly stated that Israel did not intend to keep the territories they won during the war, because they didn’t want the burden of governing a hostile populace. The intent was to use those lands as bargaining chips for future security. After the 1973 War, that sentiment was never heard of again. Every war since then has turned Israel farther into the fringes of the far-far right. This election could be the point of no return. https://www.juancole.com/2026/09/upcoming-election-extremism.html

September 8, 2026 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Israel, politics