Netanyahu Considers Moving Israel’s 2026 Elections to June

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly considering advancing the country’s scheduled November 2026 general elections to June, according to Israel’s state broadcaster KAN.

Early Elections and Strategic Timing

Netanyahu is reportedly hoping to finalize normalization agreements with Indonesia and Saudi Arabia before calling early elections. Analysts describe his chances of securing a deal with Saudi Arabia as “reasonable,” while an agreement with Indonesia appears “unlikely.”

Sources suggest that Netanyahu is pursuing at least one tangible foreign policy success to bolster his electoral prospects.

Political Context and Legal Framework

Under Israeli law, the prime minister can recommend the dissolution of the Knesset and call for early elections, but such a decision requires the approval of the president. If the government were to dissolve the parliament, elections could potentially be moved forward, pending legal and procedural steps.

Polling and Electoral Outlook

According to the latest Maariv newspaper poll, if elections were held today, Netanyahu’s party would secure 52 seats, the opposition 58 seats, and Arab parties 10 seats. Forming a government requires at least 61 seats in the 120-member Knesset, highlighting the tight margins Netanyahu would face in an early vote.