Israel's 2026 election, one party at a time.
What each party running for the Knesset has published, in its own words, with every source linked. For English speaking voters. It describes and never grades.
Coming next
Episodes come out in ballot list order as soon as each one is ready, all before the October 27 election.
| List | Letters | Party | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | צדק | Sharshar | Uploaded |
| 4 | ד | Partnership for Everyone | Coming soon |
| 5 | צף | Pirate Party | Coming soon |
| 6 | ך | Amcha Yisrael | Coming soon |
Compare the parties by topic
Every episode walks the same twelve topics in the same order, so you can read what each party says side by side.
How every episode is made
Their own words
Only what the party published itself: platform, website, official accounts, and on-the-record statements by its leaders.
The same test for everyone
Twelve topics, in the same order, for all 38 lists. Where a party published nothing on a topic, the episode says so.
Every line sourced
Each claim links to its source, most of them in Hebrew, checked against a saved copy before recording.
Questions
What is Close Read?
Close Read is a podcast and video series that goes through what every party running in Israel's October 27, 2026 Knesset election has published, one party per episode. Each episode walks the party's platform, website and official statements across the same twelve topics, quotes it in its own words, and says where nothing was published. It is made by Ben Greenberg for English speaking voters, and it describes without grading.
When is Israel's 2026 election?
Israelis vote for the 26th Knesset on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
How many parties are running?
38 lists filed with the Central Elections Committee to run in the 2026 election. Close Read covers all of them, one episode each.
What order do the episodes follow?
The Central Elections Committee's own list numbering, from list 1 to list 38. The numbering has nothing to do with size or polling, and anyone can check it.
What counts as a source?
Only what a party made public itself: its platform, its website, its official social accounts and campaign materials, and on-the-record statements by its leaders, which are labeled as interviews. Journalists' summaries, past voting records and polls are left out. Every line in an episode links to its source.
Does Close Read endorse a party?
No. The series describes what each party published and never grades it. Every party gets the same topics in the same order. A party that published little gets a shorter episode, not a harsher one.
Where can I listen?
On YouTube, in any podcast app (Apple Podcasts, Spotify and others) through the RSS feed, and on this site, where every episode has its transcript, chapters and sources.
