As Israel approaches elections for the 26th Knesset scheduled for October 27, several newly established smaller parties are emerging as potential influencers in a tightly contested race. These groups—formed by former military leaders, economists, and community activists—face the critical challenge of surpassing the electoral threshold to secure representation in the parliament.

Among the new contenders is Brig.-Gen. (res.) Ofer Winter’s People of Israel party, launched in August 2026. Positioned firmly on the right, the party aims to attract right-wing voters by advocating a strong security stance and a commitment to Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister. Winter’s party emphasizes ending political and security failures associated with the October 7 events and highlights military service as a key issue. Uniquely, the party insists it will not join any government unless a national conscription law is enacted prior to the government's formation, rejecting blanket exemptions for haredi (ultra-Orthodox) yeshiva students. Notably, the party includes Arab-Israel activist Yoseph Haddad high on its list, reflecting a blend of military, agricultural, and civic backgrounds.

Another newcomer, Moti Leitner’s Haredi Public Party, seeks to reshape political representation within the ultra-Orthodox community itself. Established in July, the party challenges the longstanding dominance of the haredi parties Shas and United Torah Judaism by advocating for compulsory military or national service for most haredi men, while allowing some to continue full-time Torah study. It also calls for enhanced secular education in haredi schools and better immigrant support. In a historic move, the party added Dr. Nechumi Yaffe as a candidate, marking one of the first instances of a woman representing a haredi party in Knesset elections.

Sharren Haskel’s Israel First party, also founded in July, represents another right-wing option but diverges in its approach to coalition-building. While supporting firm security policies, Haskel stresses the creation of a broad Zionist government independent of reliance on either the haredi or Arab parties, though the party does not exclude Netanyahu from leadership if conditions align. Israel First emphasizes recruiting ultra-Orthodox individuals into military service and opposes legislation perceived as enabling draft exemptions. The party attracted attention in August when Jonathan Pollard, a former US Navy intelligence analyst convicted of spying for Israel, joined its ranks, although Haskel rejects some of Pollard’s more extreme policy proposals, such as annexing Gaza.

The fourth party in focus emerged from a recent realignment: The Reservists-Economic Party, a merger between Yoaz Hendel’s earlier “The Reservists” party and economist Yaron Zelekha’s Economic Party. This alliance, announced in early September following a last-minute split with ex-minister Chili Tropper, combines Hendel’s security and Zionist platform with Zelekha’s economic expertise. The party explicitly commits to joining only Zionist governments and demands passing a universal conscription law before government formation, positioning itself firmly on the military service issue.

Across these parties, conscription of the ultra-Orthodox remains the most salient unifying theme. While varying in nuance, all reject the blanket exemptions defended by established parties, making military service a central election issue. Proposals range from Winter’s insistence on conscription as a condition for government participation, Leitner’s advocacy for broad national service, to Haskel and Hendel-Zelekha’s firm opposition to exemption legislation.

Polls conducted in early September reveal considerable volatility concerning their electoral viability. Some surveys show Winter’s People of Israel consistently surpassing the threshold with potential wins of up to four seats, while others suggest Hendel-Zelekha’s list may secure representation only intermittently. The Haredi Public Party and Israel First have so far struggled to cross the threshold reliably, indicating their parliamentary presence remains uncertain.

Should any of these parties secure four or more seats each, their role in coalition negotiations could prove pivotal given the fragmented political landscape. Their diverse approaches—from reinforcing Netanyahu’s bloc, challenging haredi power, to seeking cross-partisan Zionist coalitions—reflect shifting dynamics ahead of the elections.

In summary, voter support for these emerging parties carries distinct implications: backing People of Israel aligns with Netanyahu’s leadership conditioned on conscription; Haredi Public Party supporters advocate for an alternative haredi voice embracing military or national service; Israel First voters endorse a right-wing but broader Zionist coalition free of haredi and Arab party dependencies; and Hendel-Zelekha’s faction offers a framework focused on universal enlistment and Zionist governance. Whether these platforms translate into Knesset seats hinges first on surpassing the electoral threshold, a hurdle that remains uncertain as election day approaches.