Election news
Israel election news, 21 October 2026
Netanyahu comments on a Haredi draft law and draws attacks from several leaders, Likud and Religious Zionism press small right-wing parties to withdraw, a Walla poll keeps Yashar ahead of Likud, the IDF starts setting up soldiers polling stations, and Ynet reports on turnout drives and the counting plan.
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CoalitionNetanyahu says he hopes a draft exemption law can pass before the next government is sworn in
Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the Haredi radio station Kol Barama on Tuesday. Asked whether the draft law could pass before the new government forms, he did not rule it out. He said he hopes so, and that it depends on goodwill and cooperation. He also said the coalition fell one vote short of passing it. He called the arrests of Haredi draft evaders "not acceptable" and a deliberate attempt to undermine drafting Haredim without coercion. He also said those who do not study Torah must enlist. Ynet links the remarks to the detention at Ben Gurion airport of more than 40 Chabad men returning from a yeshiva year in the US, who were found to be draft deserters. N12 reports he also ruled out a plea deal in his trial and said it was never an option. Gadi Eisenkot wrote on X that he will not let it happen, and said Netanyahu promised the Haredim an evasion law as a condition for forming a government. Naftali Bennett called it a deal between Netanyahu and Aryeh Deri that trades draft evasion for power. Avigdor Liberman said Netanyahu depends on draft evaders. N12 reports that Ofer Winter's party said demanding the exemption before the government forms continues failed policy. Ynet reports that Likud called the claims fake news and said Netanyahu supports enlistment.
PollsWalla poll: Yashar 23, Likud 19; Winter's party below the threshold
A Walla poll by the Lazar Research Institute, fielded on 19 October with 601 respondents and a margin of error up to 4%, gives Yashar 23 seats, up one, and Likud 19, down one. Together has 14, up one, and the Democrats 9. Yisrael Beytenu, Otzma Yehudit, Shas and the Joint List have 8 each. United Torah Judaism has 7. Religious Zionism and Ra'am have 6 each. The Reservists and Economic list of Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha has 4. Winter's Amcha Yisrael is at 2.9%, below the threshold. Walla puts the Eisenkot bloc at 54 and the Netanyahu bloc at 48, with 4 for the Hendel-Zelekha list and 14 for the Arab parties. Neither side reaches 61. Walla advises caution on single-seat changes.
LogisticsIDF starts setting up at least 850 polling stations for soldiers
Zman Yisrael reports that the IDF is expected to begin setting up at least 850 polling stations on the evening of 20 October. They will be at bases and outposts in Israel and abroad, so soldiers in remote places can vote. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said the army has reinforced its defenses and forces so the election can take place "without external influence." The report says the stations stay open until 27 October.
LogisticsYnet: parties set up large turnout operations, and officials expect about 600,000 double envelopes
According to Ynet, the main parties are building unusually large election-day war rooms that track each polling station by neighborhood. It says Netanyahu and Smotrich set up a joint operation to raise turnout in Likud, Haredi and religious areas. It says the four remaining change-bloc parties are coordinating turnout, and that the bloc aims to push Winter's party and the Hendel-Zelekha list below the threshold. On counting, Ynet reports that election officials expect about 600,000 double envelopes. The Knesset will count them over about two days, and the count will be broadcast live for the first time. Exit polls will show only trends. Ynet says full results will be known on Thursday evening.
List changesYnet: Likud and Religious Zionism press small right-wing parties to withdraw; Winter and a Haredi party say they stay in
According to Ynet, Likud campaign manager Tzvika Brot met Moti Leitner, chair of the Haredi Public party, on Monday. The talks covered what would persuade Leitner to drop out. Ynet reports an offer of a role coordinating Haredi affairs with a budget of hundreds of millions of shekels, if a Netanyahu-led government forms. It says people close to Bezalel Smotrich drafted the plan. Ynet says Leitner turned the offer down for now and asked for guarantees from the Haredi party leaders. Likud and the Haredi Public party deny that a minister or deputy minister post was discussed. The party says it will run to the end and that no withdrawal talks are under way. Ynet also reports that Ofer Winter refuses to withdraw, quoting him as saying "we are going to the end with all our strength." Ynet counts up to 8 seats that could be lost to parties below the threshold, mostly from the Netanyahu bloc.