Election news
Israel election news, 22 October 2026
Smotrich and Winter trade public messages as Winter says he may have erred in backing only Netanyahu, the High Court issues a conditional order on sharing live turnout data with parties, Channel 12 and Channel 13 polls keep Yashar first with neither bloc at 61, Eisenkot and Liberman agree to push turnout, and Ben Gvir convenes police leaders on election preparations.
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CampaignSmotrich says Winter has boycotted him for half a year; Winter says he may have erred in backing only Netanyahu
Bezalel Smotrich answered a video that Ofer Winter posted on 20 October. In it, Winter criticized Smotrich and Benjamin Netanyahu for asking Rabbi Eli Sadan to help bring about his withdrawal. Smotrich said it was a pity they were talking through videos. He said Winter had boycotted him for half a year and refused to meet or talk. Separately, Ynet reports that Winter told Keshet News it may not have been right to announce at the start of the campaign that his party would recommend only Netanyahu. Winter said he is a man of truth and does not vacillate. Ynet adds that coalition sources expected Smotrich to offer Winter a ministerial post from Religious Zionism's share if Winter withdraws. That offer was not confirmed in the articles we opened.
CourtsHigh Court issues a conditional order on passing live turnout data to parties
The Guardians of Israeli Democracy association petitioned against a 14 October letter from Din Livneh, acting director-general of the Central Elections Committee. The letter, sent in reply to a question from Likud attorney Ilan Bombach, lets committee members and observers pass polling-station turnout figures to party headquarters in real time. At a hearing on Wednesday, a panel of three justices issued a conditional order. Ynet reports the panel said it acted for efficiency and took no position on the merits. Justice Khaled Kabub said he did not see the letter as a clarification and warned of "breaking every boundary." Justice David Mintz said the purpose was to spur turnout in areas where a party expects strong support. The state argued that mobilizing voters is legitimate. Ynet reports no final ruling yet.
PollsChannel 12 and Channel 13 polls both put Yashar first; neither bloc reaches 61
Walla reports that the Channel 12 poll gives Yashar 23 seats and Likud 19. Together has 15, the Democrats and the Joint List 9 each, and Winter's Yisrael Amcha 4, which clears the threshold. It puts the Eisenkot bloc at 55, the Netanyahu bloc at 51 and the Arab parties at 14. Walla says the Hendel-Zelekha list has 2.8% and stays out. The Channel 13 poll gives Yashar 20 and Likud 19, with the Eisenkot bloc at 52 and the Netanyahu bloc at 49. Zman Yisrael reports that Channel 13 has Winter's party at 3.2% against a threshold of 3.25%. The articles we opened give no sample size or margin of error for either poll.
CampaignEisenkot and Liberman meet and agree to focus on turnout
Gadi Eisenkot and Avigdor Liberman met on Tuesday evening. Their joint statement called raising turnout the most important effort now. It urged voters to pick one of four parties in what it calls the bloc of those who serve, so votes do not go to parties that miss the threshold. The two said they will keep cooperating to replace the government. Ynet links the meeting to a sharp post by Liberman aimed at Eisenkot. The articles do not say what the post contained.
LogisticsBen Gvir to hold a police election-preparedness meeting on Thursday; officials voice concern
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir will meet police leaders on Thursday, 22 October, for a briefing on election preparations. Walla says the heads of the Operations Division and the Operations Branch will brief him, and that Police Commissioner Danny Levy is not expected to attend. Haaretz reports that senior law enforcement officials fear the minister could use what he hears for political purposes. Ben Gvir is a candidate. His office rejects the criticism. It calls the meeting a routine situation assessment and says it is the minister's duty to hold it.