Story perspectives

Netanyahu’s coalition faces election shakeup after Arab bans

By Drooid · Oct 16, 2026, 6:24 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Arab Parties Barred

Likud-led coalition will contest the election with its current leadership and platform.
Itamar Ben-Gvir rejected Netanyahu’s reunification request, running independently.
Bezalel Smotrich allied the Religious Zionist Party with Zehut after polls warned of missing the threshold.
Arab parties Ra’am, Hadash, Ta’al and Balad were barred on September 24 by the Central Elections Committee.
Disqualification could reshape coalition math, possibly helping Netanyahu if Arab turnout declines.

Summary

Eisenkot Vows Gaza

Gadi Eisenkot vowed to end Hamas rule in Gaza within 18 months after becoming prime minister.
Benjamin Netanyahu instructed officials to identify and prosecute soldiers appearing in the documentary “NAZA.”
Avigdor Lieberman called for removing the Qatari office and establishing a state commission of inquiry before the Oct 27 vote.
European Federation of Journalists condemned Israeli threats to documentary makers as intimidation of press freedom.

History

Historical Context

In 1996, Netanyahu’s Likud won the first direct prime-ministerial vote with a narrow victory and formed a government with only 32 Knesset seats, the smallest ever, after the Central Elections Committee barred the Arab-aligned Balad party, cutting Arab seats by two. Today’s disqualification of Ra’am, Hadash, Ta’al and Balad repeats that precedent, reshaping coalition arithmetic for the October 27 election.

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Arab Parties Barred

Likud-led coalition will contest the election with its current leadership and platform.
Itamar Ben-Gvir rejected Netanyahu’s reunification request, running independently.
Bezalel Smotrich allied the Religious Zionist Party with Zehut after polls warned of missing the threshold.
Arab parties Ra’am, Hadash, Ta’al and Balad were barred on September 24 by the Central Elections Committee.
Disqualification could reshape coalition math, possibly helping Netanyahu if Arab turnout declines.

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