Jerusalem Post/Jerusalem ReportIsrael heads toward a high-stakes election after three years of war, with Netanyahu’s leadership at the center of the voteFollow us on GoogleIsrael’s election campaign is gathering pace, with the country’s political parties competing over the questions of security, leadership and the direction Israel takes after three years of war.(photo credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/MAARIV)ByRUTH MARKS EGLASHAUGUST 31, 2026 12:55It’s easy to tell when Israel is gearing up for a national election. Suddenly, the news cycle seems to speed up, and reports about wheelings and dealings dominate the headlines. This is where we find ourselves as we send this edition to print – roughly two months before the October 27 vote.This time around, almost exactly three years after the Hamas-led atrocities of October 7, 2023, and after three years of war, the stakes are much higher and more intense. Almost every issue on the table relates to the tragic events that have taken place since that fateful Saturday. For Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has served in Israel’s top spot for almost 19 years, the vote feels like a referendum on his leadership more than anything else.This edition of The Jerusalem Report delves into Israeli politics, with The Jerusalem Post’s Knesset reporter Keshet Niv and Political Correspondent Shir Perets laying out who is running, what they stand for, and where they hope to lead the country.In another piece, Perets introduces readers to Netanyahu’s key challenger, Gadi Eizenkot, a former Israeli army general who, according to almost every poll, appears to be in strong standing. And in yet another article, Perets offers her insights into why Netanyahu’s long-running gamble with the ultra-Orthodox parties might not ultimately pay off.The Report’s assistant editor and staff writer Chani Kaplan speaks to new immigrants in Israel to find out how much they understand about the fraught and polarizing world of Israeli politics; and David Siman-Tov, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, looks at the threat of foreign interference in the election process.Taking a break from politics, the Post’s award-winning photographer Chen G. Schimmel shares with readers a series of photographs taken while on assignment with Israeli rescuers in Venezuela, days after the terrible earthquake that shook the country. Post reporter Mathilda Heller writes the accompanying text.Feature writer Ben Lynfield takes a look at the spiraling murder rate in Israel’s Arab sector, and highlights that community’s efforts to tackle the problem, including the psychological fallout.On the Gaza front, feature writer Dana Ben Shimon examines how Hamas is attempting to revive itself after three years of war and build legitimacy globally; and former Israeli deputy foreign minister and ambassador Danny Ayalon, together with Middle East analyst Moran Alaluf, assess how mounting pressure from Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea could push Washington toward a deal with Tehran.And, as part of our special arrangement with the Art of Journalism workshop at Reichman University’s School of Communication, we are proud to feature two engaging reports. The first, by Koral Saeed, looks at how tatreez, a Palestinian embroidery technique used for generations, is now being incorporated by fashion designers and artists in Israel’s Arab sector, as a way to reclaim their identity.The second story, by Esther Shabot, looks at the rise of lone soldiers from Latin America serving in the IDF, and how they are setting a new trend for others in their former nations.While this edition focuses on Israel’s intense politics, there is also a wide variety of colorful stories and perspectives that offer Jerusalem Report readers a rounded view of Israel and the Jewish world.Happy reading!– Ruth Marks EglashFollow us on Google