Likud

Positions for the 2026 election

Likud

Likud is a long-established national-liberal right-wing party led by Benjamin Netanyahu. It emphasizes security, sovereignty, Jewish identity, a relatively free-market economy, and greater authority for the elected government. For the 2026 election, Likud is the dominant component of the slate agreed with New Hope.

A documented position on 28 of 30 statements

Democracy and governance

A state commission of inquiry into the events of October 7 should be established under the Commissions of Inquiry Law, with its members appointed by the President of the Supreme Court.

DisagreeStrong evidence

Likud voted against a bill to establish a state commission of inquiry and advanced an alternative in which the appointment mechanism is not controlled by the President of the Supreme Court. The party line therefore rejects the precise appointment mechanism in the statement.

The scope of the Supreme Court's judicial review of government and Knesset decisions should be reduced.

AgreeStrong evidence

Senior Likud figures advanced the Levin–Sa’ar framework, which would bar review of Basic Laws and restrict the invalidation of ordinary laws. The Likud-led government also enacted the curtailment of the reasonableness standard and announced in July 2026 that it would not comply with a ruling concerning the media regulator.

Dedicated coalition funds that are not allocated according to equitable criteria should be abolished and transferred to regular ministry budgets, even if doing so would affect existing coalition agreements.

DisagreeStrong evidence

The Netanyahu government continued to advance earmarked coalition allocations in 2026. Even after the election recess began, the Finance Committee, chaired by a Likud MK, considered additional transfers for sector-specific purposes. This record directly conflicts with abolishing the allocations across the board and moving them into ordinary ministry budgets.

Security, diplomacy and the conflict

Israel should promote a regional-international framework for the civil administration and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip after the war, provided that Hamas does not control it.

AgreeStrong evidence

Netanyahu presented a civilian administration that would be run by neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority, as part of an international plan. This is an explicit position by the Likud chair on the subject of the statement.

Even after a civil administration is established in the Gaza Strip, Israel should retain long-term security control of Gaza's borders and freedom of military action within it.

AgreeStrong evidence

Netanyahu stated that Israel would retain security responsibility and a security perimeter around Gaza for the foreseeable future, while the same plan defined an alternative civilian administration. This directly covers the security-control component after civilian government is established.

Israeli sovereignty should be applied to Area C in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank).

AgreeStrong evidence

In a direct survey, Likud answered that it would vote for a law applying sovereignty in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank). The commitment is broader still than applying sovereignty to Area C.

Women should be integrated more broadly into all combat and command roles in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), subject to uniform professional criteria.

No clear public position found

No current official Likud position was found on opening every combat and command role to women under uniform professional criteria. Statements by individual members do not add up to a party line.

Israeli civilian settlement in the Gaza Strip should be renewed.

Disagree* Internal debatePartial evidence

Likud's current line is against the statement: Netanyahu, the party chair and prime minister, rejected renewed civilian settlement in Gaza and did not make it a government objective. Visible internal dissent remains because Likud ministers and MKs also joined a July 2026 march calling for settlements in the Strip. The party leadership is against the statement, while the internal disagreement is shown beside that position.

The death penalty should be imposed on anyone convicted of murder committed as part of an act of terrorism.

AgreeStrong evidence

Likud members, together with those who joined it in the merger, voted for the law on its third reading. The law does exactly what the statement describes.

Shared service and burden

Mandatory military or civilian service should apply to all population groups, with only limited exemptions.

DisagreeStrong evidence

The coalition policy led by Likud does not impose universal mandatory military or civilian service with only narrow exemptions.

Significant personal and financial sanctions should be imposed on people legally required to enlist who fail to report without a lawful exemption, including yeshiva students.

Neutral* Internal debatePartial evidence

Likud's current line falls between the endpoints: the coalition-backed arrangement contains some personal and financial sanctions, but they are limited or conditional, while most Likud MKs also supported freezing arrests of people liable for enlistment. Yuli Edelstein, Dan Illouz and Sharren Haskel opposed the freeze. Because the statement requires significant sanctions, the mixed policy is neither clear support nor clear opposition. The dissenting votes show a genuine internal disagreement.

Religion, state and civic identity

Civil marriage should be available in Israel alongside religious marriage for those who choose it.

Disagree* Internal debateStrong evidence

Likud's current position is against civil marriage: the faction majority and the coalition commitment preserved the religious status quo. Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana voted for a civil-marriage bill and Dan Illouz defended the national-liberal line, so the internal disagreement is shown alongside the clear majority position.

Rabbinical and Sharia courts should be permitted to serve as arbitrators in civil disputes when all parties freely consent.

AgreeStrong evidence

All 29 Likud members and the three members of the United Right voted for the law permitting such arbitration with the parties’ consent.

Public transport on Shabbat should be permitted in local authorities that choose to provide it.

DisagreeStrong evidence

The Likud-led government decided in November 2025 to oppose a bill empowering local authorities to operate public transport on Shabbat.

Funding for educational institutions should be conditional on teaching a minimum core curriculum.

DisagreePartial evidence

The Likud-led government approved funding for Shas’s education network without requiring a core curriculum, directly contrary to the condition in the statement. This is an act of the government and coalition, not a provision in a new election platform.

The right to equality and the prohibition of discrimination should be explicitly entrenched in a Basic Law.

DisagreeStrong evidence

Likud opposed advancing a Basic Law that would expressly enshrine equality and prohibit discrimination.

An Arab party that accepts the government's basic policy guidelines should be permitted to join the coalition.

DisagreeStrong evidence

Likud rejected a coalition partnership with Arab parties. This is the current public line of the merged party.

Economy, welfare and cost of living

The tax burden on high-income earners should be increased to fund expanded social services.

No clear public position found

No current Likud line was found that resolves whether to increase the tax burden specifically on high earners in order to expand social services.

The basket of price-controlled food products should be expanded, even if this reduces the profitability of producers and retail chains.

AgreePartial evidence

In 2026, Economy Minister Nir Barkat sought to add matzah to the basket of price-controlled goods after unusually high profitability was found. This is a current, targeted action, but not a provision in the party platform.

Tariffs on imported agricultural food products should be reduced, even if this harms some farmers and domestic producers.

NeutralPartial evidence

The Likud-led government opened quotas and reduced tariffs in some food sectors, while also making food security and strengthening domestic production a policy objective. This is a conditional position that does not accept across-the-board harm to farmers as the price of the policy.

Eligibility for daycare subsidies should not be determined solely by the mother's employment; whether the father works, studies, or serves should also be considered.

Disagree* Internal debateStrong evidence

The roll call establishes a clear current line against the statement: a large majority of Likud members and members who later joined it supported the mother-only employment test. Dan Illouz voted against, so the dissent remains visible without cancelling the majority outcome.

The VAT-exemption threshold for personal imports should be raised from $75 to $130, even if this harms local shops and businesses that compete with overseas sellers.

Disagree* Internal debateStrong evidence

The current position is against the statement based on the direct roll-call majority: eight Likud members opposed raising the exemption threshold and four supported it. The minority support is shown as internal debate, but it does not turn an 8–4 vote into missing data.

Rights, enforcement and internal security

In exceptional cases and subject to judicial review, administrative detention should be permitted for Jewish citizens suspected of planning nationalist violence against Palestinians or the security forces, even when there is insufficient evidence for immediate criminal proceedings.

DisagreeStrong evidence

Defense Minister Israel Katz ended the use of administrative detention against Jews, and clarified in July 2026 that the policy remained in force, even while leaving open the exceptional use of other administrative tools. The statement is limited to administrative detention, so the position here is direct and clear.

The Citizenship and Entry into Israel Law should be eased so that Palestinian spouses of Israeli citizens can obtain status after an individual security screening, instead of being subject to a blanket ban.

DisagreeStrong evidence

Likud supported the restrictive temporary provision and its subsequent strengthening, rather than moving to individual assessment of every application.

Conversion therapy for minors should be prohibited by law.

Disagree* Internal debateStrong evidence

Likud's current line is against the statement: most of the faction and coalition defeated the January 2026 bill to prohibit conversion therapy for minors. Amir Ohana voted for the bill, so internal dissent is displayed alongside the majority outcome.

In combating crime in Arab society, a multi-year government-led civilian program that strengthens local authorities should be preferred over relying mainly on the Shin Bet and emergency powers.

DisagreePartial evidence

The Likud-led government shifted the center of gravity to assistance from the Shin Bet, police, and emergency measures, and also diverted civilian budgets. Its activity nevertheless includes some civilian components.

Transport and infrastructure

A congestion charge should be implemented in the Gush Dan metropolitan area, with its revenue dedicated to improving public transport, even if private-car travel during peak hours becomes more expensive.

DisagreeStrong evidence

Likud committed to abolishing the congestion charge, and Transportation Minister Miri Regev reiterated her opposition to implementing it even as implementation continued.

Last updated: 2026-08-26