Russian-speaking Israelis face an unpleasant surprise in the elections – experts

An analytical forecast based on averaged poll data predicts a sharp reduction in the representation of Russian-speaking deputies in the 26th Knesset — from 7 to 3 people. The parliament will be renewed by almost 40% (48 new deputies), mainly due to the Yashar party. At the same time, a record number of female deputies (up to 34) is expected, but with a sharp imbalance between blocs.

An analytical forecast based on averaged data from recent opinion polls predicts a dramatic change in Israel's political landscape in the upcoming elections for the 26th Knesset. The main conclusion is a sharp reduction in the representation of the Russian-speaking community: from 7 deputies in the current composition to 3 in the new one. Avigdor Lieberman, Yulia Malinovsky, and Alex Rif from the Yashar party remain guaranteed. Even considering the possible passage of Evgeny Sova (8th place on the Yisrael Beiteinu list), representation will more than halve. The parliament faces a massive renewal — 48 new deputies are expected (about 40% of the composition), close to a historical record. The main source of renewal will be the Yashar party, which could bring in up to 18 debutants. At the same time, a record number of female deputies (up to 34) is forecast, but with a sharp imbalance: in the Change Bloc, women could occupy almost half the seats (25 out of 54), while in the Netanyahu camp only 13% (7 out of 51). A stark contrast in military background is also noted: the opposition bloc has accumulated heavyweights from the security forces (Gadi Eisenkot, Yoram Cohen, Ram Ben-Barak, Yair Golan), while in the coalition parties, the highest-ranking military officers are only reserve brigadier generals.