Israel sets October 2026 election date as Netanyahu warns of Iran nuclear threat

Israel will hold general elections on October 27, 2026, the first since the October 7, 2023 attacks and subsequent regional conflicts, with polls indicating no party is likely to win a governing majority without forming a coalition. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shared an AI-generated image of a nuclear explosion in central Israel alongside a warning that Iran poses an existential threat, urging voters to support a leader capable of "finishing the job" against Tehran and warning of a potential "second Holocaust." Netanyahu's campaign faces a tight race against former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot, who advocates for accountability over security failures, while other contenders include right-wing figures Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman, with 11 of 38 registered parties expected to pass the 3.25% electoral threshold.