Israel has officially confirmed that its national elections will take place on October 27, the date established by law, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition announced Sunday that no changes would be made to the election timetable.
Coalition head Ofir Katz appeared before a parliamentary committee Sunday and stated that the October 27 date would stand. There had been uncertainty surrounding the timing after Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, voted in May to disband — a move that had raised the possibility of an earlier election being called.
Knesset Legal Adviser Sagit Afik clarified that the parliament would formally dissolve on July 17, with citizens casting their ballots on October 27 — the latest date allowed under Israeli law.
Speaking during a Knesset House Committee session, Afik said: “The current Knesset will complete its full term and will not be dissolved [early]. The election date remains as established by law — October 27.”
The confirmation carries significant historical weight. It marks the first time Israel will conduct a national election on its legally scheduled date since 1988. Additionally, Netanyahu’s government is on track to become the first Israeli administration to serve out a complete term since 1973.
Israel’s 37th government came to power on December 29, 2022, following the collapse of the previous government led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. Netanyahu’s Likud party assembled the governing coalition alongside ultra-Orthodox and far-right political parties.
The October election will determine the composition of the 120-seat Knesset, and current polling points to a closely divided political environment. Surveys suggest Netanyahu and his political allies would fall short of winning a parliamentary majority if the election were held today.
Meanwhile, the Zionist opposition bloc — an anti-Netanyahu alliance that does not include Arab-majority or ultra-Orthodox parties — is polling right at the edge of securing a majority in the Knesset.
