Israel First is a party founded on July 15, 2026 by Sharren Haskel. She is a former New Hope MK and was deputy foreign minister until the day before. She resigned to protest a law that froze arrests of Haredim who refuse to be drafted.
Israel First takes a maximalist security line: disarming Hezbollah and Hamas, destabilizing the Iranian regime, canceling the Oslo Accords, rejecting any Palestinian state and expanding settlements. It also wants universal Haredi conscription, with penalties for those who refuse.
On the economy, Israel First supports a classic economically liberal line (free markets, no tax increases). It also wants a radical education reform based on school vouchers.
Israel First presents itself as the voice of right-wing voters who have felt "politically orphaned" since New Hope was dissolved.
Israel should be able to launch a preemptive strike against a country or group that threatens it, even without the support of its allies.
Israel First highlights “strong security and uncompromising victory”, and Sharren Haskel describes herself as “very hawkish” on security. As Deputy Foreign Minister, she defended strong military action and a policy that does not wait for the international community’s approval.
Former deputy FM Haskel announces launch of new Israel First political party (Jerusalem Post) · Jul 15, 2026 · source ↗✕ Against
Israel should accept a long-term ceasefire in Gaza, even if Hamas is not fully disarmed.
Israel First rejects any next stage in Gaza without the complete destruction and disarmament of Hamas, according to Sharren Haskel.
'Running to fix broken systems': Haskel defines Israel First as Pollard joins slate (Jerusalem Post / The Media Line) · Aug 25, 2026 · source ↗
Faced with Iran’s nuclear program, which approach should Israel favor?
Its position: A military action against Iran’s nuclear sites
Sharren Haskel, leader of Israel First, defends the war against Iran and says Israel would have joined it if the United States had asked; the party has not published a detailed position on the nuclear issue.
Israel's deputy FM Sharren Haskel bets on new right after breaking with Netanyahu (Al-Monitor) · Aug 11, 2026 · source ↗
Candidate list
Sources : N12/Midgam place ce parti sous le seuil électoral le 22 septembre 2026, seul institut parmi les 4 à l'avoir mesuré. Le détail complet par institut est disponible dans l'encart sondages de la fiche.
Israel First is a party founded on July 15, 2026 by Sharren Haskel. She is a former New Hope MK and was deputy foreign minister until the day before. She resigned to protest a law that froze arrests of Haredim who refuse to be drafted.
Israel First takes a maximalist security line: disarming Hezbollah and Hamas, destabilizing the Iranian regime, canceling the Oslo Accords, rejecting any Palestinian state and expanding settlements. It also wants universal Haredi conscription, with penalties for those who refuse.
On the economy, Israel First supports a classic economically liberal line (free markets, no tax increases). It also wants a radical education reform based on school vouchers.
Israel First presents itself as the voice of right-wing voters who have felt "politically orphaned" since New Hope was dissolved.
Before you vote
What you need to know about this party’s positions before voting
Voting for Israel First means voting for a newly created party (15 July 2026) that has never been tested electorally. Born out of a single ministerial resignation rather than a pre-existing activist base, it is not yet credited with any seats, and whether it will cross the electoral threshold on 27 October remains uncertain.
On security
The platform is maximalist and unambiguous: complete disarmament of Hezbollah, destruction of Hamas's capabilities, active destabilization of the Iranian regime, official annulment of the Oslo Accords and rejection of any Palestinian state.
This approach offers no stated diplomatic alternative for overcoming the international isolation it entails.
On military conscription
Haskel has a concrete and documented personal commitment: resignation from the government on 14 July 2026 over this issue alone, preceded in December 2025 by an 80 km protest march from Kfar Saba to Jerusalem.
The platform details a mechanism of real sanctions (loss of benefits and housing assistance) for draft refusers and advantages for those who serve, an approach that effectively rules out any future alliance with the Haredi parties.
On the economy
The party advocates classical liberalism and rules out any tax increases, while simultaneously promising education reform through education vouchers. The financing of this reform is not detailed in the official platform.
On institutions
The party relies on figures with strong symbolic significance rather than an activist apparatus. The public support of Jonathan Pollard, a former spy convicted in the United States, announced on 23 August 2026, illustrates a strong but potentially divisive identity-based positioning, consistent with a niche strategy targeting disillusioned right-wing voters rather than a broad electorate.
Key positions
Security & National Defense
Israel First rejects any next stage in Gaza without the complete destruction and disarmament of Hamas, according to Sharren Haskel.
Israel-Palestinian Conflict
Sharren Haskel opposes a Palestinian state: in 2018 she called the two-state solution “dead”, and as deputy minister in 2025 she defended the “no Palestinian state now” line and denounced the recognitions by France and Canada.
Military Service & Haredi Society
Israel First supports universal military service and the conscription of Haredim; Sharren Haskel left the government in protest against the law that froze arrests of draft evaders. She also proposes “frontier yeshivas” and cutting benefits for those who do not serve.
Israel’s Jewish & Democratic Identity
Israel First wants a broad Zionist government that depends on neither the Haredi parties nor the Arab parties, and rules out “anti-Zionist” parties; Sharren Haskel says Israel First will probably not sit with the Arab parties.
Economy, Welfare & Public Services
Israel First supports a liberal economy: lower taxes, less regulation and a smaller, more efficient state budget, which rules out a tax increase. Sharren Haskel nevertheless makes education a priority.
Territories & Settlements
Israel First announces that it will work to “strengthen settlement”; Sharren Haskel is described as supportive of the settlements, without any quantified commitment to their expansion.
History
The party was founded on 15 July 2026 by Sharren Haskel, a former New Hope member of the Knesset and then Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, the day after her resignation from that post.
She resigned in protest against a law freezing the arrests of Haredi draft refusers, a measure she considers morally unacceptable toward IDF soldiers serving during the war.
She positions herself as the voice of voters who feel “politically orphaned,” advocating uncompromising security, a liberal economy, educational excellence, the expansion of civil liberties and Zionist unity in government.
Jonathan Pollard publicly announced his support for the party on 23 August 2026.
On 3 September 2026, the Aleh Yarok (Green Leaf) party, which supports cannabis legalization, joined Israel First for a joint electoral bid.
Current platform
✓The party puts forward an official plan to disarm Hezbollah and destroy Hamas's capabilities, and calls for the destabilization of the Iranian regime.
✓It calls for the official annulment of the Oslo Accords and opposes any Palestinian state.
✓It proposes mandatory Haredi conscription, accompanied by concrete sanctions for draft refusers (loss of social benefits).
✓It advocates a classical liberal economic approach: free markets, no tax increases.
✓It proposes a radical education reform through education vouchers.
Promises and record
Haskel resigned from her post as deputy minister on 14 July 2026 to protest the law freezing the arrests of Haredi draft refusers. She had already undertaken an 80 km protest march from Kfar Saba to Jerusalem in December 2025 over the same issue. This represents a concrete and longstanding commitment on this issue. The party is too new to have a broader record in government.
Candidate list (1)
1 women0 men
Documented positions
Security & National Defense4 positions+
Israel should accept a long-term ceasefire in Gaza, even if Hamas is not fully disarmed.
Israel First rejects any next stage in Gaza without the complete destruction and disarmament of Hamas, according to Sharren Haskel.
Israel should be able to launch a preemptive strike against a country or group that threatens it, even without the support of its allies.
Israel First highlights “strong security and uncompromising victory”, and Sharren Haskel describes herself as “very hawkish” on security. As Deputy Foreign Minister, she defended strong military action and a policy that does not wait for the international community’s approval.
Faced with Iran’s nuclear program, which approach should Israel favor?
Sharren Haskel, leader of Israel First, defends the war against Iran and says Israel would have joined it if the United States had asked; the party has not published a detailed position on the nuclear issue.
Israel should apply the to people convicted of deadly attacks.
Position inferred from a party vote: on March 30, 2026, New Hope (Tikva Hadasha), of which Sharren Haskel was then an MK and deputy minister, voted for the law on the death penalty for terrorists. Sharren Haskel’s individual vote has not been verified, and Israel First has not taken a position.
Inferred position: Israel First demands the destruction of Hamas but rejects the annexation of Gaza and the departure of its inhabitants proposed by Jonathan Pollard; Sharren Haskel was a deputy minister in a government opposed to the return of the Palestinian Authority. The party has not specified who should govern Gaza.
Israel should accept the creation of a Palestinian state as part of a peace agreement.
Sharren Haskel opposes a Palestinian state: in 2018 she called the two-state solution “dead”, and as deputy minister in 2025 she defended the “no Palestinian state now” line and denounced the recognitions by France and Canada.
To reach an agreement with the Palestinians, Israel should be ready to give up part of Judea and Samaria/West Bank.
Israel First wants to “strengthen settlement”, and in 2017-2018 Sharren Haskel supported applying sovereignty over Judea and Samaria/the West Bank, which rules out ceding any part of it. No recent statement deals directly with a withdrawal.
Israel should let more humanitarian aid into Gaza, even if part of it risks being diverted by Hamas.
Inferred position: Sharren Haskel says Hamas diverts international aid toward violence, and in 2017 she founded a parliamentary caucus to reform UNRWA. Israel First has not taken a position on the volume of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Existing settlements in Judea and Samaria/West Bank should be able to expand.
Israel First announces that it will work to “strengthen settlement”; Sharren Haskel is described as supportive of the settlements, without any quantified commitment to their expansion.
On which part of Judea and Samaria/West Bank should Israel apply its sovereignty?
In 2017-2018, as a Likud member, Sharren Haskel supported the motion to apply Israeli sovereignty in Judea and Samaria/the West Bank, which targeted the settlement areas. Israel First has not specified the desired extent: the option is inferred.
What should Israel do about military service for yeshiva students?
Israel First supports universal military service and the conscription of Haredim; Sharren Haskel left the government in protest against the law that froze arrests of draft evaders. She also proposes “frontier yeshivas” and cutting benefits for those who do not serve.
Israel should allow civil marriage, in addition to religious marriage.
Sharren Haskel, a classical liberal, has supported legalizing same-sex marriage, which implies civil marriage; Israel First promises “the expansion of civil liberties” but has not recently taken a position on civil marriage.
A Reform or Conservative (Masorti) conversion to Judaism, carried out abroad, should continue to give the right to make .
Inferred position: in 2018, Sharren Haskel stated that Reform and Masorti Jews are part of the Jewish people. Israel First has not stated a position on conversions and the Law of Return.
Public transport should operate on Shabbat where local residents want it.
Israel First opposes widespread public funding of transportation on Shabbat, but wants to let local authorities decide and private operators run profitable routes, with targeted service to hospitals and bases.
An Arab party should be able to be part of a governing .
Israel First wants a broad Zionist government that depends on neither the Haredi parties nor the Arab parties, and rules out “anti-Zionist” parties; Sharren Haskel says Israel First will probably not sit with the Arab parties.
What should be done with the 2018 “Nation-State” law?
Inferred position: Israel First presents itself as a right-wing movement that “puts the Jewish nation first”, and Jonathan Pollard says there is no need to apologize for Israel being a Jewish state. Sharren Haskel’s vote on the 2018 law has not been verified.
The state should lower taxes, even if this means cutting some public spending.
Israel First supports a liberal economy: lower taxes, less regulation and a smaller, more efficient state budget, which rules out a tax increase. Sharren Haskel nevertheless makes education a priority.
What would be the best way to lower prices in Israel?
Inferred position: Israel First supports a “free economy”, less regulation and bureaucracy, and Sharren Haskel calls herself “libertarian” on economics. No specific statement on imports or monopolies was found.
Israel should create a civil union open to same-sex couples, with the same rights as married couples.
Sharren Haskel chaired the LGBT caucus and supported legalizing same-sex marriage, but in 2016 she voted against several bills on these rights. Israel First has not taken a recent position on civil union.
Haredi schools that receive state money should be required to teach core subjects (math, English, science), like other schools.
Inferred position: Israel First wants public money to go to those who serve and work, and Sharren Haskel opposes funding the Haredi sector without anything in return. No statement on core subjects in Haredi schools was found.
Schools and municipalities should have more freedom to manage their budget, hire their teachers and organize their teaching, instead of everything being decided by the Ministry of Education.
Israel First's work plan provides for education vouchers paid to parents and full management autonomy for schools, according to Polimeter.
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