The Israel election on October 27, 2026, could end Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long tenure, but his principal opponents have outlined limited changes to policy toward Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.

Key Takeaways

  • Gadi Eisenkot, a potential successor to Netanyahu, has promised tougher action against settler violence but does not support a Palestinian state.
  • Israeli anti-settlement groups say at least 127 Palestinian herding communities have left their land since 2023.
  • Opposition figures have pledged to dismantle some outposts, but not settlements legalized by Netanyahu’s government.

Israel election and the West Bank

Netanyahu’s opponents have promised to confront violent settlers and remove some outposts, which are illegal under Israeli law. They have not proposed evacuating the more than 100 new settlements legalized by his government, including 44 that had previously been outposts.

Most of the international community considers Israeli settlements illegal and an obstacle to a two-state solution. Israel says the West Bank’s future status should be decided through negotiations.

Eisenkot’s proposed approach

Eisenkot, a retired general and political centrist, hopes to form a coalition with three other parties. He has pledged to empower Israeli troops and Border Police to crack down on settler violence.

He opposes a Palestinian state but is open to limited Palestinian self-rule in the 40% of the West Bank administered by the Palestinian Authority. He would allow settlement growth in the remaining 60%, which is under direct Israeli military rule.

Some prospective coalition allies oppose settlements and have supported a two-state solution, but have agreed to set those positions aside to seek Netanyahu’s removal.

Displacement and settler outposts

Settlers have established more than 250 camps across the West Bank under Netanyahu, particularly in areas where Palestinian herding communities have lived for decades. Researcher Dror Etkes says the outposts have enabled settlers to gain effective control of roughly a fifth of the territory.

Data gathered by Etkes’ organization, Kerem Navot, and the Israeli anti-settlement group B’Tselem indicate that at least 127 Palestinian herding communities have been forced off their land since 2023.

Mairav Zonszein, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, said a new government could at best slow the acceleration of Israeli actions in the occupied territories.

Next milestone

Israelis vote on October 27, after which the parties will seek to form a governing coalition.

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