Netanyahu says will run for PM in next year's election

‘Israeli’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday that he will run for office in the November 2026 elections and expects to win.

Appearing on a programme on the right-wing Channel 14, Netanyahu was asked whether he intended to seek another term. "Yes," he replied.

When pressed on whether he expected to win, the premier responded: "Yes."

Read more: Hamas responds to Netanyahu’s refusal to open Rafah crossing

Longest-Serving Prime Minister

Netanyahu leads the Likud party, the largest of the ‘Israeli’ right-wing parties, and has served the longest cumulative term as prime minister in ‘Israel's’ history, holding the office for more than 18 years since 1996, across separate terms.

In the most recent election, his party won 32 seats in the Knesset, while his coalition allies, Haredi parties and the Religious Zionist alliance, secured a record 32 seats.

Legal and Political Challenges

Netanyahu continues to face three corruption cases that have been ongoing since May 2020. During his current term, which began in late 2022, he introduced wide-ranging judicial reforms that opponents argued were aimed at weakening the judiciary.

Those proposals sparked massive protests that subsided only after October 7, 2023.

Netanyahu faced significant domestic criticism over his management of the war and his handling of the issue of releasing the captives held in Gaza.

He also faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court on suspicion of ordering war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.