Four new parties in Israel seek to enter the Knesset — Jerusalem Post
In Israel, ahead of the elections to the 26th Knesset, scheduled for October 27, 2026, several newly created political forces are trying to pass the electoral threshold. These include Reserve General Ofer Winter’s People of Israel party, Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha’s Reservists-Economic Party, Moti Leitner’s Haredi Public Party, and Sharren Haskel’s Israel First. Their result may depend on several thousand votes, the Jerusalem Post reports.
If a party does not pass the electoral threshold, it will not receive representation in the Knesset. Polls show unstable positions for the new forces: in a Maariv survey conducted on September 7–8, People of Israel received 2.8% and did not pass the threshold, while the Hendel–Zelekha list could win four seats. Several days later, another Maariv poll showed the opposite result: four seats for Winter’s party and 3% for Hendel–Zelekha.
Right-wing parties and conditions for a government
Winter’s party positions itself as a right-wing force and says it supports Benjamin Netanyahu for prime minister. Winter said his party would not join a government if the conscription law is not passed before the government is sworn in. The party also opposes a blanket exemption from service for yeshiva students. Regarding Gaza, Winter called for the voluntary emigration of its residents instead of a continued policy of containment.
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Israel First, which Haskel founded in July after resigning as deputy foreign minister, also calls itself right-wing. At the same time, Haskel proposes forming a broad Zionist government that would not depend on Haredi or Arab parties, regardless of who leads it. She supports universal conscription for Haredim and opposes legislation that, she says, could allow people to avoid service. Haskel also calls for reducing bureaucracy and directing state spending toward those who work, serve, and pay taxes.
Competition in the Haredi community
Leitner’s Haredi Public Party seeks to compete with the established ultra-Orthodox parties Shas and United Torah Judaism. Leitner, deputy mayor of Beit Shemesh, believes that men who study Torah full time may continue doing so, but that most Haredim should serve in the military or perform national service. The party also supports teaching core subjects, including mathematics and English, in Haredi schools.
The Hendel–Zelekha list was formed after the breakup of the previous Zionist Home–Reservists alliance. Former minister Chili Tropper joined Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party, while Hendel announced a joint election run with economist Zelekha. The new force stated that it would join only a Zionist government and would demand the adoption of a universal conscription law before the government is formed.
