The 120 members of the new Knesset – Who is who?

Israel has voted. Today, President Isaac Herzog will receive the official results of the Knesset election held on October 27. This marks the beginning of the next phase of government formation. The 26th Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on November 10.

A total of eleven parties will be represented in the Israeli parliament with 120 members. Among them are 47 first-time parliamentarians. 33 of the 120 seats go to women.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s Likud remains the largest faction with 27 seats. The new party Yashar, founded by former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, follows with 21 seats. The joint electoral alliance Beyachad of former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid receives twelve seats.

The new Knesset is characterized by significant personnel changes. 47 members are entering parliament for the first time. 33 of the 120 seats go to women. Among those elected are several former senior officers of the Israeli Defense Forces as well as a former head of the domestic intelligence service Shin Bet.

The political situation remains open for now. Netanyahu’s camp holds 53 seats, the parties of the opposing bloc together hold 48 seats. The two Arab factions hold a combined total of 19 seats. A majority of at least 61 members is required to form a government.

How the 120 seats are distributed

Likud – 27 seats

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (center) with Likud members on election night, October 28, 2026, at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem. Photo: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90.

Likud remains the strongest party in the Knesset. Its list includes numerous incumbent ministers and experienced parliamentarians, as well as political newcomers and figures from the media and the security establishment.

1. Benjamin Netanyahu (77) – Prime Minister of Israel and chairman of Likud. He first served as head of government from 1996 to 1999 and has shaped Israeli politics for more than three decades.
2. Eli Cohen – Former Foreign Minister and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. He previously served as Minister of Economy, among other roles.
3. Amir Ohana – Speaker of the Knesset and former Minister of Justice and Minister of Public Security. He has been a member of parliament since 2015.
4. Yariv Levin – Minister of Justice and one of the leading advocates of judicial reform. He previously served as Speaker of the Knesset.
5. Miri Regev – Minister of Transport and former Minister of Culture. Before entering politics, she served as spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces.
6. Israel Katz – Minister of Defense and a long-serving Likud politician. He has headed several ministries, including Foreign Affairs, Finance, and Transport.
7. Gideon Sa’ar – Foreign Minister and former Minister of Justice and Education. After founding his own party, he returned to Likud.
8. Ofir Katz – Long-serving Knesset member and outgoing chairman of the Likud parliamentary faction.
9. Talik Gvili – Mother of police officer Ran Gvili, who was killed on October 7, 2023. She is entering the Knesset for the first time.
10. Yoav Kisch – Minister of Education, former pilot, and long-serving Knesset member.
11. Yaakov Bardugo – Political commentator and media personality elected to parliament for the first time.
12. Miki Zohar – Minister of Culture and Sport and former chairman of the Likud faction.
13. Almog Cohen – Former police officer from the Negev and outgoing Knesset member from Otzma Yehudit.
14. Amichai Chikli – Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism. He began his parliamentary career with Yamina.
15. Elisha Madan – Wounded reserve officer in the Israel Defense Forces and first-time elected Knesset member.
16. David Peter – Newly elected Likud member entering parliament for the first time.
17. Moshe Saada – Former senior official in the Israeli Police Investigations Authority and outgoing Knesset member.
18. Chaim Katz – Long-serving Likud politician, former trade union official, and minister.
19. David Amsalem – Long-serving Likud member and minister who has taken on various roles in government administration.
20. Etty Atia – Former Likud member returning to parliament after a hiatus.
21. Boaz Bismuth – Former editor-in-chief of the daily newspaper Israel Hayom and outgoing Knesset member.
22. David Bitan – Former chairman of the Likud faction and chairman of the Knesset’s Economic Affairs Committee.
23. Shlomo Karhi – Minister of Communications and advocate of wide-ranging reform of Israel’s media sector.
24. Nir Barkat – Minister of Economy, entrepreneur, and former Mayor of Jerusalem.
25. Gila Gamliel – Long-serving Likud politician who has held various ministerial positions.
26. Eli Goldschmidt – Former Knesset member from the Labor Party who returns to parliament via Likud.
27. Erez Tadmor – Publicist and political commentator entering the Knesset for the first time.

Yashar – 21 seats

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar party, with party colleagues at the election event in Tel Aviv on October 28, 2026. Photo: Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90.

The Yashar party, founded by Gadi Eisenkot, immediately becomes the second-largest faction. Its list brings together former ministers, senior representatives from the security services, administrative experts, and figures from civil society.

1. Gadi Eisenkot (66) – Former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces and former member of the War Cabinet. He founded the Yashar party.
2. Yoram Cohen – Former head of Israel’s domestic intelligence service, Shin Bet. He is entering the Knesset for the first time.
3. Orit Farkash-Hacohen – Former Minister of Tourism and Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology.
4. Adi Altschuler – Social entrepreneur and founder of social initiatives, including the inclusive youth movement Krembo Wings.
5. Matan Kahana – Former combat pilot and Minister of Religious Affairs.
6. Chili Tropper – Former Minister of Culture and Sport, who previously worked in the fields of education and social welfare.
7. Shaul Meridor – Former head of the Budget Division at Israel’s Ministry of Finance.
8. Tair Ifergan – Former senior official in Israel’s Ministry of Labor and Employment.
9. Oshratt Gani Gonen – Former chairwoman of the South HaSharon Regional Council.
10. Shira Shapira – Newly elected member of Yashar.
11. Inbar Harosh Gity – Former director of the Israeli Authority for National Civil Service.
12. Elazar Stern – Former Major General in the Israel Defense Forces, former Minister of Intelligence, and long-serving Knesset member.
13. Kamil Abu Rukun – Former Major General and former Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).
14. Dvora Bakar – Newly elected member of Yashar.
15. Alex Riff – Social activist and founder of the One Million Lobby initiative representing Russian-speaking Israelis.
16. Inbar Yecheskeli Blilious – Newly elected member of Yashar.
17. Roy Folkman – Former Knesset member from the Kulanu party, who focused particularly on economic policy issues.
18. Israel Zeri – Newly elected member of Yashar.
19. Tal Ohana – Former mayor of Yeruham in the Negev.
20. Elyasaf Peretz – Member of an Israeli family that lost two sons during military service.
21. Yafa Tabaja – Newly elected member of Yashar.

Beyachad – 12 seats

Former prime ministers Naftali Bennett (left) and Yair Lapid at the election event for their Beyachad alliance in Tel Aviv on October 28, 2026. Photo: Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90.

The electoral alliance of former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid brings together politicians from various political directions as well as former government officials and security figures.

1. Naftali Bennett (54) – Former Prime Minister, Minister of Defense and Minister of Education, as well as an entrepreneur. He led the Israeli government from 2021 to 2022.
2. Yair Lapid (63) – Former Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Finance Minister. Before his political career, he worked as a journalist and television presenter.
3. Keren Terner Eyal – Former Director-General of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transport.
4. Merav Ben-Ari – Long-serving Knesset member with a focus on domestic policy and public security.
5. Liran Avisar Ben Horin – Former Director-General of the Ministry of Communications.
6. Noam Tibon – Former Major General in the Israel Defense Forces who drove to Nahal Oz on October 7, 2023, to rescue his family and brought other people to safety in the process.
7. Michal Hirsch Negri – Newly elected member of Beyachad.
8. Eitan Ginzburg – Former Mayor of Ra’anana and former Knesset member.
9. Meirav Cohen – Former Minister of Social Equality and long-serving Yesh Atid politician.
10. Jonathan Shalev – Newly elected member of Beyachad.
11. Bruria Naim Arman – Newly elected member of Beyachad.
12. Ram Ben-Barak – Former Deputy Director of the Mossad and long-serving Knesset member.

Joint List – 11 seats

Yusuf Jabarin, chairman of the Joint List, with party colleagues and supporters on election night, October 27, 2026, in Nazareth. Photo: Sharon Leibel/Flash90.

The Joint List unites several Arab political currents and will be the largest Arab-based faction in parliament.

1. Yusuf Jabarin – Jurist, academic, and former Knesset member. He leads the Joint List.
2. Ahmad Tibi – Physician and long-serving Knesset member. For decades, he has been one of the most prominent Arab politicians in Israel.
3. Fatin Ghattas – Newly elected member of the Joint List.
4. Bakr Awawdeh – Newly elected member of the Joint List.
5. Ofer Cassif – Former academic and outgoing Knesset member from the communist Hadash party.
6. Yusuf Atauna – Bedouin politician from the Negev and outgoing Knesset member.
7. Maha Karkabi-Sabbah – Newly elected member of the Joint List.
8. Ahmad Darawshe – Newly elected member of the Joint List.
9. Nihaya Washahi – Newly elected member of the Joint List.
10. Hassan al-Nasasra – Newly elected member of the Joint List.
11. Haitham Zahalka – Newly elected member of the Joint List.

The Democrats – 8 seats

Yair Golan (center), chairman of the Democrats, with party colleagues on election night, October 27, 2026, in Tel Aviv. Photo: Yehoshua Yosef/Flash90.

The Democrats emerged from the merger of the Labor Party and Meretz. The party represents social democratic and liberal positions.

1. Yair Golan – Former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces and chairman of the Democrats.
2. Naama Lazimi – Outgoing Knesset member who has focused particularly on social policy and workers’ rights.
3. Gilad Kariv – Reform rabbi, jurist, and long-serving Knesset member.
4. Efrat Rayten – Jurist, former television presenter, and outgoing Knesset member.
5. Yair Fink – Political activist from the religious-liberal spectrum.
6. Gaby Lasky – Human rights lawyer and former Knesset member from Meretz.
7. Omri Ronen – Newly elected member of the Democrats.
8. Michal Rozin – Long-serving Meretz politician who has been a particularly strong advocate for women’s rights and social equality.

Ra’am – 8 seats

Mansour Abbas (center), chairman of the Ra’am party, with party colleagues at the election event on October 27, 2026, in Sakhnin in northern Israel. Photo: Michael Giladi/Flash90.

Ra’am represents an Islamist political current within Israel’s Arab population. The party previously participated in the governing coalition of Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid.

1. Mansour Abbas – Physician and chairman of Ra’am. In 2021, he led his party into an Israeli governing coalition for the first time.
2. Yoav Segalovitz – Former senior police officer and former Deputy Minister of Public Security.
3. Walid Taha – Long-serving Ra’am politician and outgoing Knesset member.
4. Walid al-Huashla – Bedouin politician from the Negev and outgoing Knesset member.
5. Iman Khatib-Yassin – Social worker and politician. She was the first woman to wear a hijab in the Knesset.
6. Yasser Hujirat – Arab politician and outgoing Knesset member from Ra’am.
7. Ibrahim al-Turi – Newly elected member of Ra’am.
8. Abd al-Karim Masri – Newly elected member of Ra’am.

Otzma Yehudit – 7 seats

Itamar Ben-Gvir (center), chairman of Otzma Yehudit and Minister of National Security, with party colleagues on election night, October 27, 2026, in Modi’in. Photo: Flash90.

Itamar Ben-Gvir’s party belongs to the national-religious right-wing camp and advocates a hardline security policy.

1. Itamar Ben-Gvir – Minister of National Security and chairman of Otzma Yehudit.
2. Tally Gotliv – Lawyer and former Likud member who is now entering parliament via Otzma Yehudit.
3. Yitzhak Wasserlauf – Minister for the Development of the Negev and Galilee and long-time close associate of Ben-Gvir.
4. Amichai Eliyahu – Minister of Heritage and representative of the national-religious camp.
5. Limor Son Har-Melech – Outgoing Knesset member who has been a particular advocate for Jewish settlers in Judea and Samaria.
6. Yitzhak Kroizer – Outgoing Knesset member from Otzma Yehudit.
7. Chanamel Dorfman – Former chief of staff and close political associate of Itamar Ben-Gvir, entering parliament for the first time.

United Torah Judaism – 7 seats

Yaakov Asher (standing at the microphone), chairman of United Torah Judaism, with party colleagues on election night in Bnei Brak, October 28, 2026. Photo: Hilel Ben Or/Flash90.

United Torah Judaism is an alliance of the ultra-Orthodox parties Degel HaTorah and Agudat Yisrael. It primarily represents the interests of the Ashkenazi ultra-Orthodox community.

1. Yaakov Asher – Long-serving Knesset member and former Mayor of Bnei Brak.
2. Yitzhak Goldknopf – Chairman of Agudat Yisrael and former Minister of Construction and Housing.
3. Yitzhak Pindrus – Long-serving ultra-Orthodox politician and former Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem.
4. Meir Porush – Long-serving Knesset member and former Minister for Jerusalem Affairs and Jewish Tradition.
5. Moshe Rosenthal – Newly elected member of United Torah Judaism.
6. Elyakim Stark – Newly elected member of United Torah Judaism.
7. Yehuda Leib Weisfish – Newly elected member of United Torah Judaism.

Yisrael Beiteinu – 7 seats

Avigdor Liberman, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, speaking on election night, October 27, 2026, at his party’s election headquarters in Tel Aviv. Photo: Tal Gal/Flash90.

Yisrael Beiteinu, led by Avigdor Liberman, represents a secular, nationally oriented political stance. Among its traditional voter base are many Israelis with roots in the former Soviet Union.

1. Avigdor Liberman – Former Minister of Defense, Foreign Affairs, and Finance, and long-serving chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu.
2. Rafi Ben-Shitrit – Former Mayor of Beit She’an.
3. Talya Lankri – Former senior officer in the Israel Defense Forces and security expert.
4. Oded Forer – Former Minister of Agriculture and long-serving Knesset member.
5. Julia Malinovsky – Long-serving Knesset member with a focus on internal security and parliamentary oversight.
6. Sharon Sharabi – Brother of former Hamas hostage Eli Sharabi and newly elected Knesset member.
7. Hamad Amar – Druze politician, former deputy minister in the Ministry of Finance, and long-serving Knesset member.

Religious Zionism – 6 seats

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (center), chairman of the Religious Zionism party, with party colleagues and supporters on election night, October 28, 2026, in Jerusalem. Photo: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90.

Bezalel Smotrich’s party represents national-religious positions and advocates, among other things, for Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria.

1. Bezalel Smotrich – Finance Minister and chairman of the Religious Zionism party.
2. Moshe Feiglin – Former Likud member and founder of the Zehut party. He returns to the Knesset via Religious Zionism.
3. Orit Strock – Minister of Settlements and National Missions and long-serving representative of the settler movement.
4. Simcha Rothman – Jurist and chairman of the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee. He is one of the leading advocates of judicial reform.
5. Zvika Mor – Father of former Hamas hostage Eitan Mor and co-founder of the Tikva Forum, an organization for families of hostages.
6. Itamar Eitam – Newly elected member of Religious Zionism.

Shas – 6 seats

A near-empty election headquarters of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party in Jerusalem on the election night of October 27, 2026. The party won only six seats in the election. Photo: Yossi Zamir/Flash90.

The ultra-Orthodox Shas party primarily represents religious Sephardi and Mizrahi Jews. It has been one of Israel’s established political forces for decades.

1. Aryeh Deri – Chairman of Shas and former Interior Minister. He has been one of the most influential politicians in the ultra-Orthodox camp for decades.
2. Pinon Azulai – Long-serving Knesset member from Shas and son of former politician David Azulai.
3. Michael Malkieli – Former Minister of Religious Affairs and long-serving Shas member.
4. Yoav Ben-Tzur – Former Minister of Labor and long-serving Knesset member.
5. Chaim Biton – Former deputy minister in the Ministry of Education and long-serving official within the Shas movement.
6. Dror Amos – Newly elected member of the Shas party.

New faces, old challenges

The 26th Knesset will be shaped by a mix of experienced politicians, former security officials, administrative experts, and first-time parliamentarians. Alongside long-serving ministers and faction leaders, the parliament will also include individuals whose public engagement is closely tied to the events of October 7, 2023, and the wars that followed.

The new composition also reflects the social diversity of Israel: secular and religious parties, Jewish and Arab members, and differing political visions for the country’s future.

But before parliamentary work can begin, it must be determined who is able to form the next government. Neither Netanyahu’s political camp nor the parties of his opponents alone hold a majority of 61 seats.

The new Knesset is scheduled to be sworn in on November 10. This marks the beginning of a new parliamentary term whose political majority dynamics remain, for the time being, unresolved.

Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates