On October 27, 2026, Israel is scheduled to hold legislative elections for the first time since 2022. Currently, the government (Knesset) is led by Benjamin Netenyahu and the right-wing Likud Party, who formed a coalition with religious parties and has led the country through conflicts for the past 3 years. Will the left get a win for the first time since the 2000s? Here are the left-wing parties you need to know about, and their popularity according to recent polls:
Mahane Machmlakti - National Unity
National Unity was a centrist coalition that ran in the 2022 elections. Made up of 2 parties, Gideon Sa’ar’s New Hope and Benny Gantz’ Blue and White, the party was a part of the opposition bloc until the Gaza War broke out, when they joined Netenyahu’s coalition. However, this would prove to be a mistake as beginning in June 2024, factions within the party began to split off. In July 2025, the party split again into New Hope and Blue and White, with Sa’ar’s New Hope signing an agreement that would merge them with Likud for the 2026 elections. Blue and White advocates for the strengthening of Israel, technocratic incentives for entrepreneurs and medical students, and equal rights for all citizens. In 2019, Gantz promised to deepen his partnerships with the ultra-Orthodox (Haredim), Israeli-Druze, and Arab-Israelis. This is unusual for a right wing politician to say in Israel, as these three groups have historically been excluded by the political establishment for various reasons. Gantz claims to be socially left wing, right wing in his security goals, and liberal in his economic goals. Blue and White is currently projected to win 4 seats in the upcoming elections. They will not be a part of Netenyahu’s coalition in the next government. Their political pragmatism and combination of social and economic liberalism leads me to believe that their Western comparison is Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance.
HaDemokratim - The Democrats
The Democrats are the most popular left-wing party in Israel. Founded in 2024, the party is a merger between the Israeli Labor Party and Meretz, a secularist social democratic party. The Labor Party was founded in 1968 as a merger between the three largest Labor Zionist (a form of socialist Zionism that was popular during Israel’s founding) parties. Labor Zionism was founded on the principle that a Jewish state could only be established through the efforts of a unified Jewish proleteriat living in urban, industrial environments and communal, agricultural, kibbutzes. Until 1977, all Israeli presidents were involved or affiliated with the Labor Zionist movement. However, the last time Israel was run by a Labour member was in 2001, with controversial president Ehud Barak’s two year term. The Democrats are running on a platform dedicated to a two state solution, a welfare state, and an opposition to the idea of Israel being enshrined as a Jewish state. Recent polls have them winning between 8 and 12 seats in the upcoming elections. Their origins supporting working-class voters but transitioning towards more socially progressive policies is similar to the UK Labour Party.