Israel is set to go to the polls on 27 October after the Knesset's dissolution
13 October 2026
Israel's general election is set for 27 October 2026.
Al Jazeera reported on 17 July 2026 that the Knesset was to dissolve ahead of the vote.
Israel is a single nationwide constituency, and the 120 Knesset seats are shared out by each list's share of the vote.
A list must win at least 3.25 per cent of the vote to enter the Knesset, and a government needs 61 of the 120 seats.
Al Jazeera notes this is the first time the Knesset has seen out its full term since 1988.
After the vote, the President asks the politician best placed to form a coalition to try to assemble one.
Parties have until 16 October to submit surplus-vote agreements, the Times of Israel reports.
In plain words
Knesset the Parliament of Israel — Israel's single-chamber parliament with 120 members.
Electoral threshold the minimum share of votes a list needs — A list below 3.25 per cent wins no seats in the Knesset.
Surplus-vote agreement a pact between two lists to pool leftover votes — It can win one party an extra seat when final seats are allocated.