The incoming Knesset will include a number of high-profile figures from diverse backgrounds, marking a significant infusion of new talent alongside veteran lawmakers. These individuals bring experience from the media, public service, security sectors, and protest movements, reflecting their transition into formal political roles. Some are continuing long-standing public engagement, while others are entering parliamentary politics for the first time.
Yaakov Bardugo, a Channel 14 commentator with close ties to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, secured a seat on the Likud list. Bardugo has a lengthy public service record, including leadership roles at the Federation of Local Authorities and Mifal Hapayis, Israel’s national lottery. His election represents a move from media into policymaking.
David Peter, also of Likud, is a lawyer and former Kohelet Policy Forum researcher known for his involvement in legal cases supporting Netanyahu and other senior right-wing officials facing judicial challenges. His expertise in constitutional law and government legal battles positions him as a key figure in ongoing judicial debates.
The party Yashar welcomes Shaul Meridor and Yoram Cohen. Meridor, who formerly led the Finance Ministry’s Budget Department and the Energy Ministry as director-general, resigned in 2020 amid disputes with then-finance minister Israel Katz and Netanyahu over economic policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cohen, a former head of the Shin Bet from 2011 to 2016, comes from the religious Zionist community with extensive security experience. He has been a recent critic of government policies and Netanyahu’s leadership.
Keren Terner, representing B’Yachad, brings senior public service credentials as a former director-general of both the Transportation and Finance ministries. She and Meridor previously clashed with politics surrounding the professional independence of the Finance Ministry’s staff, with Terner notably defending Meridor during political tensions. Now reentering politics with different factions, both maintain influence over fiscal and governance issues.
Among the former military leaders elected is Major-General (ret.) Noam Tibon of B’Yachad. Tibon commanded several elite units, including the Northern Corps and the Judea and Samaria Division. He attracted national attention for his role during the October 7 attack on Gaza border communities, where he and his family helped evacuate residents. Since then, he has been active in calls for accountability regarding security failures.
Moshe Feiglin returns to the Knesset with the Religious Zionist Party as part of a joint list with Zehut. Feiglin, a former Likud MK and leader of the opposition to the Oslo Accords in the 1990s, is known for his support of Greater Israel, advocacy for changing the status quo on the Temple Mount, and libertarian economic views.
Rafi Ben-Shitrit, who joined Yisrael Beytenu after a long career in Likud and served as mayor of Beit She’an, became a prominent voice following the death of his son during the October 7 attack. He now leads efforts by bereaved families and survivors lobbying for a state commission of inquiry into the attacks.
Otzma Yehudit’s Hanamel Dorfman, former chief of staff to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, continues his close association with the minister through his new parliamentary role. He has been involved closely with government security and law enforcement coordination.
The Democrats, a newly formed political faction, will include social activists Yair “Yaya” Fink and Omri Ronen. Fink is a co-founder of Lobby 99 and a former leader in protests against the judicial overhaul, advocating for equal military service and social equality. Ronen, a lawyer and reserve Maglan commando officer from Kfar Aza, lost his mother in the October 7 attacks and fought in border area combat. He has also been active in anti-judicial overhaul protests and now brings his advocacy into the legislative arena.
The mix of veteran officials and newcomers, many shaped by the recent national security crisis and polarized political battles, suggests the next Knesset will be marked by a complex interplay of experience, activism, and ideological divisions.