Israeli Leaders Reach Consensus on Settlement Expansion After Elections
Israeli political leaders maintain a broad consensus on continuing West Bank settlement expansion and military control following the October 27 national elections.
Israel held national elections on October 27, 2026, with leading political figures maintaining a broad consensus on the continuation of the occupation and settlement expansion in the West Bank. While candidates differ on domestic issues like judicial reform and ultra-Orthodox conscription, they remain aligned on maintaining military control.
Benjamin Netanyahu seeks to form another right-wing coalition to sustain these policies. Other candidates proposed varying strategies for the future of Gaza. Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, pledged to end Hamas' rule in Gaza within 18 months of taking office. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett advocated for continued Israeli military control until Palestinian groups are disarmed, while opposition leader Yair Lapid proposed placing Gaza under Egyptian administration for 15 years.
These political developments follow a period of increased settler violence and land appropriation. The Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission reported that approximately 29,335 dunums of land were targeted as state land between October 2023 and August 2026.
