Israelis vote today to choose next Knesset members

Israelis cast ballots today to elect the country's next parliament, known as the Knesset.

Nine major parties and three smaller lists are on the ballot. The outcome depends on which groups clear the 3.25% electoral threshold required for representation.

Benjamin Netanyahu leads the right-wing Likud party, which heads the sitting coalition. Likud prioritizes national security and Jewish nationalism while opposing Palestinian statehood. The party’s ballot letters are מ and ח and ל.

Gadi Eisenkot, a former IDF chief of staff, heads the centrist Yashar party. This group is part of the opposition bloc and focuses on government reform and replacing Netanyahu. Its ballot letters are ד and ר and ח.

Former prime minister Naftali Bennett leads B’Yachad, another centrist opposition party. It seeks economic growth and the enlistment of ultra-Orthodox men in the military. Voters will see the letters ר and ק on the ballot.

Yair Golan leads the Democrats, a left-wing Zionist party in the opposition. It emphasizes liberal democracy, civil rights, and education reform. The ballot letters are א and מ and ת.

Avigdor Liberman heads Yisrael Beytenu, a right-wing secular nationalist party in the opposition. It seeks to reduce the influence of religious parties and takes a hardline stance against Hamas. The ballot letter is ל.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, the National Security Minister, leads Otzma Yehudit. This far-right party is part of Netanyahu's coalition and advocates for expanded settlements and tougher law enforcement. The ballot letter is ב.

Arab Israeli politics is represented by the Joint List and Ra’am. The Joint List is generally left-wing and emphasizes equality and Palestinian national rights. Mansour Abbas leads Ra’am, which takes a pragmatic approach to crime and community funding. The ballot letters are ו, ד and מ for the Joint List, and ע and מ for Ra’am.

Two ultra-Orthodox parties are also in the Netanyahu bloc. Shas represents Sephardi and Mizrahi haredi Jews, while United Torah Judaism represents Ashkenazi communities. Both prioritize religious institutions and service exemptions. Their ballot letters are ש and ס for Shas, and ג for UTJ.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin lead Religious Zionist Party-Zehut. This far-right group supports applying Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank and advancing judicial reform. The ballot letter is ט.

Three parties near the threshold could determine the balance of power. People of Israel, led by Ofer Winter, supports Netanyahu and demands haredi enlistment. The Reservists-Economic Party, led by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha, focuses on economic reform and universal conscription. Moti Leitner leads the Haredi Public Party, which seeks broader haredi service and core-curriculum studies. Their ballot letters are ך, ד and י, and ז and ח.