Likud

Hebrew: הַלִּיכּוּד (“The Consolidation”) · Founded: 1973 (Menachem Begin) · Leader: Benjamin Netanyahu

Israel’s dominant right-wing party and the anchor of every right-religious coalition since 1977 (with interruptions). Nationally hawkish on security, pro-settlement, opposed to Palestinian statehood in its current platform; brands itself free-market but governs with significant sectoral subsidies in practice. Traditionalist but not itself a religious party.

• 2022 result: 32 seats. August 2026 polling: roughly 21–24 seats, frequently tied with or trailing the new Yashar party.
• Recent development: Gideon Sa’ar’s New Hope party — which had split from Likud in 2020 — formally merged back in (agreement March 2025, ratified by Likud’s Central Committee August 2025), five years after Sa’ar’s failed leadership challenge. Sa’ar and Ze’ev Elkin received reserved list slots.
• Core 2026 platform: security posture in the aftermath of the Gaza/Lebanon/Iran wars; continuation of judicial-overhaul aims; the contested Haredi conscription bill.
• Legal cloud: Netanyahu’s corruption trial (Cases 1000, 2000, 4000 — see Key Figures) continues; verdict not expected before 2027.