KESHET NEEV

Keshet is The Jerusalem Post Knesset and political correspondent. Originally from Calgary, Canada, she moved to Israel in 2015. She completed her national service at the Foreign Ministry and continued to pursue a BA in Communications Journalism and English Literature at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Gadi Eisenkot, leader of Yashar party and a former IDF chief of staff, speaks during an election campaign rally in Nordiya, Israel, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2026.

Eisenkot rejects claim he promised Ra'am a place in future coalition during Bedouin meeting

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with opposition head Yair Lapid, June 17, 2025

Lapid calls on Netanyahu to convene defense budget committee, release NIS 11b. to IDF

Israeli flag and rainbow flag being waved at Tel Aviv Pride Parade, June 25 2021

B'Yachad party will pursue LGBTQ marriage rights if part of next government, Lapid vows


WATCH: RZP releases AI video showing arrests of judicial officials as part of election campaign

The video was released as part of the far-right party's launch of its plan for a future judicial reform, should it be part of the next government after the October elections. 

Screengrab from the Religious Zionist Party's recent campaign video showing the arrest of Israeli judicial officials, September 15, 2026.

Likud says it will request to ban Arab parties from running in elections

The Likud stated that it would file the requests for the parties' disqualifications, and that "there is no place in the Knesset for those who harm IDF soldiers."

Mansour Abbas is the head of Ra’am, one of four Arab parties vying for a place in the Knesset.

Netanyahu seeks to raise IDF budget, Lapid conditions support on canceling ‘corrupt’ haredi funds

Lapid noted that, in general, he supported transferring the funds to increase the defense establishment’s budget “because the IDF needs to be strengthened.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with opposition head Yair Lapid, June 17, 2025

No. 3: Gadi Eisenkot: Israel’s next prime minister?

The former IDF chief has emerged as the leading opposition challenger to Netanyahu, offering voters a path to a post-Netanyahu Israel.

Gadi Eisenkot, head of Yashar, is the main challenger to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the upcoming October election.

No. 4: Naftali Bennett: The former PM seeking a comeback to ‘repair Israel’

Since returning to politics, Bennett has shifted from his previous campaigns, taking a more liberal position while maintaining a strong right-wing stance on security.

B'Yachad party chairman Naftali Bennett sits down with The Jerusalem Post at his party's headquarters, central Israel, September 4, 2026

No. 15: Netanyahu's key partners and challengers shaping Israel's future

Following the October elections, the influence of these figures could change dramatically, depending on the balance of power between Netanyahu’s camp and the opposition bloc.

(L-R clockwise) Itamar Ben-Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich, Arye Deri, Gideon Sa'ar, Yair Lapid, Avigdor Liberman, Yuli Edelstein.

Bennett-Liberman, Eisenkot-Golan: Opposition parties sign surplus vote-sharing agreement

A voter surplus is the number of votes a party has left after winning its initial Knesset seats. Surplus-vote agreements can help allied parties turn those extra votes into another seat.

Naftali Bennett and Gadi Eisenkot at a march for conscripting haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Jews into the IDF, in Jerusalem, January 15, 2026; illustrative.

Bennett can 'fix Israel after Oct. 7,' retired IDF general on B'Yachad slate says - interview

Tibon’s comments came at B’Yachad’s Knesset slate unveiling in Tel Aviv on Sunday, before the deadline for parties to submit their final candidate lists.

 Major General (Ret.) Noam Tibon speaks to thousands of Israeli left-wing activists during a rally in Rabin Square, Tel Aviv, calling for talks with Palestinians and in support of the two-state solution, May 27, 2017.

With Eisenkot, Israel can defeat Iran, ex-Mossad official and Yashar list member Bachar says

Now on Eisenkot’s list, she believes her party is well positioned to triumph in the October elections and “make Israel great again.”

Portrait of Yashar party member former Shin Bet and Mossad official Dvora Bachar with Yashar head Gadi Eisenkott, August 12, 2026.

Parties finalize Knesset slates before deadline as Gantz’s Blue and White runs alone despite polls

The deadline also means the end to speculation over possible mergers between parties that were polling below the electoral threshold.

Former IDF chief of staff Benny Gantz leads Blue and White, which is polling below the electoral threshold.