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Israel's Knesset Completes Term, Netanyahu Runs Amid Trial

7/13/2026

50 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Israel’s Knesset will complete a full four-year term, first in 50 years, before the October 27, 2026 election.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 76, will run again despite a corruption trial that could bring ten years in prison.
Former army chief Gadi Eisenkot leads polls, with his Yashar party ahead of Netanyahu’s Likud.
Critics say the Gaza war, genocide accusations and judicial reforms turn the vote into a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership.

History

Historical Context

In May 1977, Menachem Begin’s Likud won 43 Knesset seats, ending three decades of Labor dominance in what broadcasters called “the upheaval.” The party’s rise rested on Mizrahi and religious voters disillusioned after the Yom Kippur War and internal Labor scandals. The 2026 election, pitting incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu against Gadi Eisenkot, echoes that shift as voters again weigh stability amid war and judicial reforms.

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Story summary

Israel’s Knesset will complete a full four-year term, first in 50 years, before the October 27, 2026 election.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, 76, will run again despite a corruption trial that could bring ten years in prison.
Former army chief Gadi Eisenkot leads polls, with his Yashar party ahead of Netanyahu’s Likud.
Critics say the Gaza war, genocide accusations and judicial reforms turn the vote into a referendum on Netanyahu’s leadership.

1 / 2