The Media Line: Israel Sets October 27 Election Date as Netanyahu Government Completes Full Term  

Israel Sets October 27 Election Date as Netanyahu Government Completes Full Term  

By The Media Line Staff  

Israel will hold national elections on October 27, the date originally set by law, after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition confirmed Sunday that the vote would not be moved forward despite earlier uncertainty over the election timetable.  

Coalition head Ofir Katz told a parliamentary committee Sunday that the October 27 date would remain in place. The timing had been unclear since the Knesset voted in May to disband, raising the possibility of an earlier election.  

Knesset Legal Adviser Sagit Afik said the parliament will dissolve on July 17 and voters will go to the polls on October 27, the latest election date permitted under Israeli law.  

“The current Knesset will complete its full term and will not be dissolved [early]. The election date remains as established by law—October 27,” Afik said during a Knesset House Committee discussion.  

The decision means Israel will hold an election on schedule for the first time since 1988. Netanyahu’s current government will also become the first Israeli government to complete a full term since 1973.  

Israel’s 37th government was formed on December 29, 2022, following the collapse of the government led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. Netanyahu’s Likud party formed the governing coalition with ultra-Orthodox and far-right parties.  

The October vote will determine the makeup of the 120-seat Knesset as polling indicates a closely divided political landscape.  

Current polls suggest Netanyahu and his political allies would fall short of securing a parliamentary majority if elections were held today.  

The Zionist opposition bloc, an anti-Netanyahu alliance that does not include Arab-majority or ultra-Orthodox parties, is polling just on the edge of a majority.