Israel

Likud came first with 27 of the 120 seats and Yashar second with 21 when the Central Elections Committee finished the count on 29 October 2026. Netanyahu's bloc has 53 seats, Eisenkot's bloc 48 and the two Arab parties 19, so no bloc has the 61 needed; the official results are due in early November 2026. Here is where the 11 party leaders in that vote stand on liberty, from their own words and actions.

Who should lead Israel after this election, and why?Say what you think. Other readers can answer you.Discuss

Coalition talks under way · official results presented to President Herzog on November 4; 67 MKs recommended Eisenkot and 46 Netanyahu; Herzog handed Eisenkot the mandate on November 8 and he opened coalition talks; on November 9 he meets Liberman, who rejects a minority government

Build the next government

120 seats. A government needs 61. Tap parties to add them, and see who can get there.

120seats in the Knesset

Tap a party to start a government.

Start from a bloc or a plan in the news

What the betting markets sayprices of Nov 9

Who becomes prime minister

Eisenkot63%
Netanyahu25%
Liberman7%
Bennett3%

Netanyahu out as prime minister by December 3144%

Prices on Polymarket, where $90.5M has been bet on who becomes prime minister: what people with money on it expect, not a poll and not my view.

The partiesIn governmentOutside

Led by Benjamin Netanyahu C+ PM odds 25%
Led by Gadi Eisenkot C PM odds 63%
Led by Naftali Bennett C+ PM odds 3%
Led by Yousef Jabareen F
Led by Yair Golan D-
Led by Mansour Abbas F
Led by Avigdor Liberman D PM odds 7%
Led by Itamar Ben-Gvir C-
Led by Yaakov Asher F
Led by Aryeh Deri B-
Led by Bezalel Smotrich D-

Every government that can reach 61, likeliest first

Ranked by what the leaders have said on the record. Tap one to try it.

Who will govern with whomWhat each leader has said, with the source. If the government you build breaks one of these, it shows above.

Likud
- Red line Netanyahu has said a government must not rely on the Arab parties. Source, October 27, 2026
- Said Netanyahu told Ben-Gvir and Smotrich after the vote: "We are together and we are staying together." Source, October 28, 2026
Yashar
- A condition Eisenkot has said he will not serve under Netanyahu, not even in a rotation agreement. Source, October 21, 2026
- Said Eisenkot will form only a Zionist government: partners must recognise Israel as a Jewish state and call Hamas a terrorist group. Source, October 28, 2026
- Red line Eisenkot on Ra'am and the Joint List: "I do not see an Arab party that accepts my principles." Source, September 24, 2026
Together
- Red line Bennett has said he will not sit with Netanyahu in any government. Source, October 12, 2026
- Red line Bennett has said he will not rely on the Arab parties. Source, July 15, 2026
Joint List
- From outside The Joint List asks for no ministries and would consider backing a government against Netanyahu from outside. Source, October 28, 2026
The Democrats
- Red line The Democrats have ruled out joining a government with Netanyahu and Likud. Source, October 1, 2026
- Open to After the vote Golan urged a government of change "in partnership with Israel's Arab citizens". Source, October 28, 2026
- Red line Golan on Ben-Gvir's and Smotrich's parties: "With them I will not sit." Source, November 8, 2025
- Open to Golan on the ultra-Orthodox parties: "I do not disqualify the haredim, absolutely not." Source, May 27, 2026
Ra'am
- Open to Abbas wants Ra'am inside a government of change: "If we join a government of change, we will be able to see substantial changes." Source, October 27, 2026
- Said Ra'am said it would recommend Eisenkot to Herzog. Source, November 4, 2026
Yisrael Beytenu
- Red line Liberman has said he will not sit with Netanyahu or with the Joint List's Ahmad Tibi. Source, October 29, 2026
- Open to Liberman said he is ready to compromise with the Haredi parties on the draft law: "Being willing to compromise does not mean giving up values and principles." Any draft law must survive the High Court. Source, November 8, 2026
- Red line Liberman has said the government must not rely on Arab parties, either directly or indirectly. Source, October 29, 2026
- Said Liberman rejects Eisenkot's plan for a minority government: "Supporting a minority government means handing Netanyahu the premiership as a gift." Source, November 8, 2026
Otzma Yehudit
- A condition Ben-Gvir: "I don't want Eisenkot to be prime minister." Source, October 23, 2026
United Torah Judaism
- From outside UTJ sources, unnamed, have floated backing an Eisenkot government from outside. It is a report, not a party decision. Source, October 29, 2026
- Said UTJ said it would not recommend anyone for prime minister. Source, November 4, 2026
Shas
- Red line Deri has said of Shas: "We support Netanyahu, period." Source, July 16, 2026
- Said A Kikar Hashabbat reporter told 103FM that Shas could consider backing an Eisenkot government if the status of yeshiva students is settled, once UTJ moves first. It is a report, not a party decision. Source, November 8, 2026
Religious Zionism
- Open to Smotrich would not rule out a government with Eisenkot: "We don't boycott anyone." He added: "I go with my natural partners." Source, October 22, 2026

What happens next

Oct 28Herzog asks the parties to avoid another election and come to talks with an open mind. Source
Oct 28Netanyahu opens talks with his allies, Smotrich and Ben-Gvir first. Source
Nov 4Official results presented to Herzog. RZP and Shas recommend Netanyahu; Yisrael Beytenu recommends Eisenkot. Source
Nov 5Herzog's talks with the parties end: 67 MKs recommend Eisenkot (Yashar, Together, The Democrats, Yisrael Beytenu, Ra'am, Joint List), 46 Netanyahu. UTJ recommends no one. Source
Nov 8Herzog picks Eisenkot to try first (told him on 7 November) and hands him the mandate at a ceremony on 8 November. Eisenkot calls for a national emergency government and opens talks. Source
Nov 9Eisenkot meets Liberman to settle their split over a 48-seat minority government, which Liberman rejects. Source
Nov 10The new Knesset is expected to be sworn in. Source
Nov 18Last day to challenge the results. Source
Dec 6Eisenkot's 28 days to form a government end (from 8 November). Herzog may add up to 14 more. Source
ThenAfter the results, Herzog meets every party and picks the leader most likely to form a government. That leader has 28 days, and 14 more if asked. If two leaders fail, the Knesset gets 21 days; then a new election. Source

Seats: Jerusalem Post, Unconventional steps required: Eisenkot vows to form emergency government as Herzog bestows mandate (8 November 2026), checked Nov 9, 13:47 UTC. Herzog's talks ended on 5 November: 67 MKs recommended Eisenkot, 46 Netanyahu. On 8 November Herzog handed Eisenkot the mandate; he has until 6 December, and 14 more days if asked. Blocs as counted by The Times of Israel. "Outside" means a party votes to keep the government alive without joining it, as Ra'am did in 2021 before it joined. A red line shows only when the party said it, with the source.

Benjamin Netanyahu
Prime minister since 2022, caretaker until a new government is sworn in · Likud
C+
Liberty Score C+
77 out of 100 across 6 measures, from what Netanyahu has said and done.
27 of 120 seats, the largest list, in the official result of the October 27, 2026 vote.
Every line on Netanyahu, with its source
Gadi Eisenkot
Former army chief; heads Yashar, now the second-largest list · Yashar! (Straight)
C
Liberty Score C
73 out of 100 across 5 measures, from what Eisenkot has said and done.
21 of 120 seats, in the official result of the October 27, 2026 vote.
Every line on Eisenkot, with its source
Naftali Bennett
Former prime minister; heads the Together list with Yair Lapid · Together
C+
Liberty Score C+
77 out of 100 across 5 measures, from what Bennett has said and done.
12 of 120 seats, in the official result of the October 27, 2026 vote.
Every line on Bennett, with its source
Yousef Jabareen
Hadash leader; heads the Joint List, elected back to the Knesset · Joint List (Hadash, Ta'al, Balad)
F
Liberty Score F
14 out of 100 across 6 measures, from what Jabareen has said and done.
11 of 120 seats, in the official result of the October 27, 2026 vote.
Every line on Jabareen, with its source
Yair Golan
Democrats chairman, former deputy army chief; elected to the Knesset · The Democrats
D-
Liberty Score D-
60 out of 100 across 6 measures, from what Golan has said and done.
8 of 120 seats, in the official result of the October 27, 2026 vote.
Every line on Golan, with its source
Mansour Abbas
Ra'am chairman and Knesset member; heads the Ra'am list · United Arab List
F
Liberty Score F
33 out of 100 across 7 measures, from what Abbas has said and done.
8 of 120 seats, in the official result of the October 27, 2026 vote.
Every line on Abbas, with its source
Avigdor Liberman
Knesset member, former defence minister; heads the Yisrael Beytenu list · Israel Our Home
D
Liberty Score D
66 out of 100 across 6 measures, from what Liberman has said and done.
7 of 120 seats, in the official result of the October 27, 2026 vote.
Every line on Liberman, with its source
Itamar Ben-Gvir
National security minister; heads the Otzma Yehudit list · Jewish Power
C-
Liberty Score C-
71 out of 100 across 6 measures, from what Ben-Gvir has said and done.
7 of 120 seats, in the official result of the October 27, 2026 vote.
Every line on Ben-Gvir, with its source
Yaakov Asher
Knesset member; chairman of United Torah Judaism and head of its list · United Torah Judaism
F
Liberty Score F
17 out of 100 across 5 measures, from what Asher has said and done.
7 of 120 seats, in the official result of the October 27, 2026 vote.
Every line on Asher, with its source
Aryeh Deri
Shas chairman and Knesset member; heads the Shas list · Shas (Sephardi Torah Guardians)
B-
Liberty Score B-
81 out of 100 across 7 measures, from what Deri has said and done.
6 of 120 seats, in the official result of the October 27, 2026 vote.
Every line on Deri, with its source
Bezalel Smotrich
Finance minister; heads the joint Religious Zionist-Zehut list · Religious Zionist Party and Zehut, joint list
D-
Liberty Score D-
61 out of 100 across 5 measures, from what Smotrich has said and done.
6 of 120 seats, in the official result of the October 27, 2026 vote.
Every line on Smotrich, with its source

Voting in Israel: who can vote, how to register and how to vote from abroad.

Every letter on this page is an outline. It is a grade from what a politician has said and done, with a source for every line, on the same scale as the rest of the site.

Read the lines before you compare two letters. Someone who has governed has a long record, and more of it cuts both ways. Someone who has not is graded on what they say they will do, and a promise is easier than a decision.

Side by side

One line for each principle. With liberty every time is an A, against every time is an F, and a record that goes both ways gets the letter of its balance, with acts counting more than words. A question mark means the record does not settle it. Tap a name to read the sources.

Confronts tyranny and terrorStands up to the regimes and armed movements that rule by fear and export it: the regime in Tehran and the militias it arms, Putin's war, the Chinese Communist Party, terror groups and the networks that fund them.

B-Netanyahumostly with FEisenkotboth ways CBennettmostly with FJabareenagainst D-Golanmostly with D-Abbasmostly with C-Libermanmostly with ABen-Gvirwith ?Ashernot clear ADeriwith D-Smotrichmostly with

Stands with free nations and free peoplesBacks democracies under attack and people rising against their rulers: Israel, Ukraine, Taiwan, the people of Iran, and the alliances that keep free countries safe. Rejects isolationism, left and right.

B-Netanyahumostly with AEisenkotwith BBennettmostly with FJabareenagainst CGolanmostly with FAbbasmostly against DLibermanmostly with ABen-Gvirwith ADeriwith ASmotrichwith

Free speech and a free mindAgainst censorship by government or at its request. Every opinion, about any party, any idea or any religion, may be said and argued with.

?Netanyahunot clear ?Eisenkotnot clear FJabareenboth ways FGolanagainst FLibermanagainst FBen-Gvirmostly against FAsheragainst FDeriagainst ?Smotrichnot clear

Free markets and free tradePeople keep what they earn and trade with whom they choose: lower taxes, less regulation, open trade, no price controls and no planned economy.

B-Netanyahumostly with AEisenkotwith FBennettboth ways FJabareenboth ways FAbbasagainst FLibermanboth ways ?Ben-Gvirnot clear FAsherboth ways FDeriboth ways DSmotrichmostly with

One law, equal for every individualRights belong to each person, never to a race, a sex or a group. Women and gay people equal under the same law; no one favoured or held back by race or sex; no ideology forced on children or soldiers.

FJabareenagainst FGolanagainst FAbbasagainst

Freedom of conscienceThe state takes no side on religion. Every church, synagogue, mosque and temple is free, so is having no faith, and no religion's law is imposed on anyone.

FNetanyahumostly against AEisenkotwith ABennettwith AGolanwith FAbbasmostly against CLibermanmostly with FBen-Gviragainst FAsheragainst FDeriagainst FSmotrichagainst

Strong enough to stay freeFunds, equips and staffs the armed forces a free country needs to deter its enemies.

FNetanyahuboth ways AEisenkotwith ABennettwith FJabareenagainst FGolanboth ways FAbbasagainst ALibermanwith FBen-Gvirboth ways FAsheragainst DDerimostly with DSmotrichmostly with

Citizenship and the rule of lawA free country decides who joins it, enforces its own laws, vets newcomers, and keeps out those who come to destroy its freedoms.

ANetanyahuwith ?Golannot clear FAbbasmostly against ABen-Gvirwith AAsherwith ADeriwith

What Israel voted on, and votes on next

Oct 272026
Knesset (parliament), 26th Held
Result: Likud came first with 27 of the 120 seats and Yashar second with 21 when the Central Elections Committee finished the count on 29 October 2026. Netanyahu's bloc has 53 seats, Eisenkot's bloc 48 and the two Arab parties 19, so no bloc has the 61 needed; the official results are due in early November 2026.
Fills all 120 seats of the Knesset, the single house of parliament, which then decides who forms the government.
The whole country is one district and each voter casts one vote for a party list, not for a person. Seats are shared out by each list's share of the vote, and a list needs 3.25 percent to get any. No party has ever won a majority alone, so after the vote the president asks the leader best placed to gather 61 of the 120 members to form a coalition.
Source: The Jerusalem Post, Israel sets election date for October 27 Source: Ynetnews, Israel heads to election on October 27 after Knesset dissolves itself Result: Israel National News, Final Results: 53 seats for Netanyahu bloc, 48 seats for opposition
No day set
Knesset (parliament), 27th
Due by law in the Hebrew month of Cheshvan (October or November) of 2030, four years after the 2026 vote, unless the Knesset is dissolved earlier.
Fills all 120 seats of the Knesset, the single house of parliament, which then decides who forms the government.
The Knesset sits for four years from the day it is elected. When the last Knesset dissolved itself, as it did before the 2026 vote, the next one sits until the month of Cheshvan after those four years, and the vote falls on a Tuesday of that month. The Knesset can dissolve itself and call an earlier vote.
Source: Constitute Project, Israel's Basic Laws (rev. 2013), Basic Law: The Knesset Source: Constitute Project, Israel's Basic Laws (rev. 2013), Basic Law: The Knesset

Who is on this page: The head of every list that won 6 seats or more in the Central Elections Committee's full count of the 27 October 2026 vote, announced on 29 October 2026, most seats first. Every list that entered the Knesset won 6 or more. Israel National News, Final Results: 53 seats for Netanyahu bloc, 48 seats for opposition. Israel National News, Final Results: 53 seats for Netanyahu bloc, 48 seats for opposition. Read on October 29, 2026. See something that is wrong or missing? Say so in the discussion.

How I grade outside the United States Every country