Israel’s 2026 election: Who are the main leaders and where do they stand on the key issues?

The Israeli election on 27 October is one of the most important in the country’s history, the first since 2022 and the Hamas-led attacks of 2023, the genocide in Gaza and the war on Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , Israel’s longest-serving premier and now seeking a seventh term, faces wide criticism for his handling of the wars, which have isolated Israel internationally. Other issues facing Israelis include the security of the occupied West Bank, including the growth of settlements, and compulsory military conscription for ultra-Orthodox communities.