Israel Elections

Likud: Turnout Will Decide Election

David Sharan tells Israeli radio that despite polling numbers, high voter participation among right-wing supporters would secure victory

Eliana Fleming, Srugim

AUG 17, 2026 20:38

2 min read

David Sharan, director-general of Likud, has issued a warning against complacency among right-wing voters ahead of Israel's upcoming elections, stressing that exercising the right to vote will be critical to the outcome.

Speaking on the radio program "Pitchi and Zamri Ba'am" on Galei Israel, Sharan addressed his party's standing in recent polls and outlined what he sees as the key to victory: "In the polls we're somewhat on the defensive, but if the public comes out to vote and the right-wing public votes in the numbers that the left votes – we win. But that's not guaranteed."

The Likud director emphasized the growth in eligible voters and cautioned against a scenario that could lead to a change in government: "There are 700,000 new voters, most of them right-wing people. If they stay home and don't understand that if they don't come out to vote there will be a government of Eisenkot and Arabs, the only way to win is to move yourself, leave the house and make the small effort, go and vote. That's the entire difference between victory and defeat."

Gadi Eisenkot, a former IDF chief of staff, is running on the National Unity party list, which has been polling strongly in recent surveys.

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