From the Great Assembly to Israel’s 2026 Elections: Can the Knesset Still Unite the Country?

Since arriving in Israel, I’ve voted in 13 Knesset elections, changing parties several times, and between 1995 and 2025, the country saw 7 different prime ministers. The date of the 26th Knesset election, was set to Tuesday, October 27, 2026 (16 Heshvan, 5787) but this might be changed due to certain political interests and logistical challenges.

A Tradition of Debate – More Than 2,500 Years Old 

More than 2,500 years ago, Jewish tradition describes the Knesset Hagedolah—the “Great Assembly” in Jerusalem. This body of around 120 sages and leaders played a central role in shaping Jewish communal and religious life during the early Second Temple period.

The idea behind the Great Assembly remains fascinating: a society built around discussion, interpretation, disagreement and collective decision-making.

When the modern State of Israel was established in 1948, its founders intentionally chose the name Knesset for the Israeli parliament—and preserved the symbolic number of 120 members.

This was not accidental. It reflected a desire to connect modern Israeli democracy with a much older Jewish tradition of public debate and leadership.

The Knesset Today – A Mirror of Israeli Society 

Today, the Knesset in Jerusalem stands at the center of Israel’s political system.

Israelis vote not for individual politicians, but for party lists in a nationwide proportional representation system. As a result, Israeli politics is highly diverse—and often highly fragmented.

No single party has ever governed Israel alone. To form a government, a coalition requires at least 61 of the 120 seats in parliament.

This creates a political culture built around:

• negotiations

• coalition agreements

• shifting alliances

• and constant public debate

  
  

Religious and secular Jews, Arabs, liberals, conservatives, ultra-Orthodox parties, nationalist movements and centrist groups all compete within the same political arena.

The Knesset therefore reflects not only politics—but the broader tensions, diversity and complexity of Israeli society itself.

Israel 2026 – The Next Political Battle 

As Israel moves toward the upcoming elections in 2026, the political atmosphere is once again becoming increasingly intense and uncertain.

The country remains deeply affected by the aftermath of war, internal social divisions, debates around judicial reform, tensions between secular and religious communities, and ongoing questions surrounding security and national identity.

Against this backdrop, the upcoming elections are shaping into far more than a routine democratic event.

Among the central questions currently dominating Israeli political discourse:

• Will Benjamin Netanyahu once again succeed in returning to power?

• Are new political actors capable of reshaping the traditional blocs?

• What role will the ultra-Orthodox parties play in the next coalition?

• Can Israel’s fragmented political system still produce a stable government?

• And perhaps most importantly: what kind of Israel do different parts of society actually envision for the future?

  
  

Current polls continue to show a deeply divided electorate, with coalition arithmetic remaining extremely complicated. Even relatively small parties may once again become decisive kingmakers in coalition negotiations.

At the same time, political debates increasingly reflect broader societal questions:

• religion and state

• military service

• judicial authority

• identity and democracy

• the balance between security and civil society

For many Israelis, the elections of 2026 are therefore not only about choosing a government—but about defining the future direction and character of the country itself.

From the outside, Israeli politics can often appear chaotic and unstable. Yet in many ways, this constant argument and negotiation is also deeply rooted in the country’s historical and cultural DNA.

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These are exactly the questions explored in my workshop:

The Knesset as a Reflection of Israel's Complex Society

From the Great Assembly to Israeli Democracy

A workshop exploring the historical roots, political structures and current debates shaping Israeli democracy today—including a special focus on the upcoming 2026 elections, coalition scenarios and the future of Israeli society.

👉 Workshop Link