Israel election news, 20 October 2026

Polls

Channel 12 and Channel 13 polls both put Yashar first, with the blocs within five seats

Channel 12 gives Yashar 24 seats and Likud 21. Together has 14, and the Democrats and the Joint List have 9 each. Channel 12 puts the change bloc at 55 and the Netanyahu bloc at 51, with 14 seats for the Arab parties. It has the parties of Ofer Winter and of Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha below the threshold. Channel 13 gives Yashar 20 and Likud 18, with the change bloc at 51 and the Netanyahu bloc at 50. In that poll, Winter's party and the Hendel-Zelekha list each have 4. Channel 13 also asked who is more suitable for prime minister: Eisenkot 46%, Netanyahu 38%. Channel 12 reports 45% and 33%. The articles we opened give no sample size or margin of error for either poll.

Source: Zman Yisrael (Hebrew), 19 October · Maariv (Hebrew), 19 October · Kikar HaShabbat (Hebrew), 19 October

Campaign

Likud asks the Central Elections Committee to stop Yashar's mock draft-order mailings

Yashar says it mailed hundreds of thousands of letters to first-time voters. The envelopes resemble IDF draft orders and tell recipients to report for four years of compulsory service. Yashar says the mailing warns of what a re-elected government would mean. Likud, through its legal adviser Ilan Bombach, petitioned the Committee to stop it. Likud argues the letters look like official IDF mail and use the IDF's identity for campaign purposes. It cites the law that bans election propaganda in the IDF. Yashar calls the mailing a visual parody meant to link military service with the duty to vote. HaMechadesh reports that Yashar did not say how it obtained the recipients' details. Ynet reports no decision by the Committee yet.

Source: Ynet (Hebrew), 19 October · HaMechadesh (Hebrew), 19 October

Campaign

Winter says Smotrich lied about offering him a place on his list

According to Walla, which obtained a recording of a home meeting held by Ofer Winter in the Negev on Sunday evening, Winter said Bezalel Smotrich "lied." Last week Smotrich was asked at an Arutz 7 conference whether he had offered Winter the top spot on his list. He answered "of course." Winter said Smotrich never met or spoke with him. Walla did not verify either account.

Source: Walla (Hebrew), 19 October

Logistics

IDF orders an exit restriction from Thursday; election-day decision still open

Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir announced the restriction on units after a situation assessment on Monday morning. Walla reports it starts this coming Thursday. Zamir said the army's mission is to allow the elections to take place on time and safely. The IDF spokesperson said no decision has been made yet on an election-day restriction and that it will come later this week.

Source: Walla (Hebrew), 19 October

Courts

Yashar asks the Elections Committee chair to remove two Netanyahu videos filmed with Air Force jets

According to Emess, Yashar filed a petition on Monday with Committee chair Justice Noam Sohlberg against Netanyahu and Likud. It seeks removal of two videos shot with fighter jets behind him, a halt to their distribution and an interim order. The petition argues they use public assets for campaign purposes, against Sohlberg's earlier ruling. That ruling, issued on 6 October, ordered a Tel Nof video removed from Netanyahu's personal accounts. The second video shows a call with Donald Trump. Ynet reports Netanyahu published it and that Trump said "You're the man I want by my side, Bibi." Ynet says the base is an Air Force base and does not mention a jet. Emess reports no decision on the new petition yet.

Source: Emess (Hebrew), 19 October · Ynet (Hebrew), 19 October