Israel goes to the polls – in pictures

The Knesset is Israel’s national parliament. Its members debate and pass laws, approve the national budget, scrutinize ministers, and represent the public. Because Israel’s government depends on parliamentary support, Knesset elections also decide who can lead the country.

In this election, voters choose all 120 Knesset members. The result does not directly elect a prime minister through a separate nationwide vote. Instead, the distribution of seats determines which party or group has the best chance of building a governing majority.

That makes every seat important, especially when parties are closely matched. Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future depends on whether his rightwing coalition can secure enough support in the new Knesset. The election is also the first since the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023, adding major security and hostage-related concerns to the parliamentary contest.

The election chooses 120 members of the Knesset, as stated in the article. To control a majority of the chamber, a party or alliance needs at least 61 seats. That number matters because a government must normally command majority support to pass laws, approve budgets, and survive important parliamentary votes.

Israel uses proportional representation. Parties receive seats broadly according to their share of the national vote, rather than winning separate seats in local districts. For example, several parties may each win meaningful blocs without any one party approaching 61 seats.

The practical result is coalition bargaining. Parties negotiate over ministerial posts, policy priorities, and support for a proposed government. Netanyahu’s rightwing coalition therefore needs enough allied seats to reach or maintain a majority. If its combined total falls below 61, it may need new partners, or another bloc may try to govern.

Israel’s government depends on support inside the Knesset. This election could therefore decide whether Benjamin Netanyahu’s existing rightwing coalition remains strong enough to continue. Voters are choosing all 120 lawmakers, and the resulting balance will show whether the coalition still has a workable majority.

The mechanism is straightforward. Coalition parties must collectively hold enough seats to pass legislation and support the government. Even a small shift in seats can matter if the governing bloc is close to the majority line. Parties outside the coalition may also gain leverage if their support becomes necessary.

The political stakes are heightened by the election’s timing. It is the first held since the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023. Hostage families, security concerns, and calls for political change are visible in the campaign, including Ruby and Hagit Chen’s appeal for Israelis to vote for change. The result could reshape Israel’s leadership and policies.

If no single party wins enough seats to govern alone, parties usually begin coalition negotiations. This is common under proportional representation because votes are spread among multiple parties. A potential governing party must find partners whose combined seats can provide a majority in the 120-member Knesset.

The key mechanism is agreement. Parties may negotiate over cabinet positions, budgets, security policy, and other priorities. Once a prospective coalition has enough parliamentary backing, its leader can seek to form a government and present it for approval. The exact process can involve the head of state assigning a lawmaker to build the coalition.

If negotiations fail, another leader or group may receive an opportunity. A prolonged impasse can lead to another election under Israel’s constitutional arrangements. For this contest, that means Netanyahu’s bloc could remain in office only if it retains reliable partners, while rival parties may try to build an alternative majority.

The attacks and their aftermath may strongly shape voters’ priorities. The article identifies this as the first election since the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023. Security, the government’s response, and the fate of hostages are therefore likely to weigh heavily, although individual voters may draw different conclusions.

The Siegel family shows the human cost. Keith Siegel and Aviva Siegel were kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Aviva was freed after 51 days in captivity, then campaigned for Keith’s release. He was freed after 484 days. Their decision to vote publicly connects the election with personal survival and demands for action.

Other families are urging political change. Ruby and Hagit Chen, whose son Itay Chen was killed, spoke at an event in Hostage Square commemorating the attacks. Their campaigning illustrates how families affected by the violence may seek accountability, different policies, or stronger action from Israel’s next government.

The article reports that tens of thousands of Israelis living abroad have returned to vote. Their stated purpose is participation in this election. Returning home allows them to cast ballots when voting arrangements abroad may not provide the same opportunity or convenience as voting at home.

Their impact depends on the margin between parties. Israel’s proportional system converts the national vote into Knesset seats. If returning voters favor one party or bloc, even a relatively small change in the overall vote share can affect which parties win seats and how many they receive. Those seats can determine coalition negotiations.

The effect is greatest when the governing coalition is near the majority line. Additional support could help Netanyahu’s rightwing coalition retain power, while votes for opposition parties could weaken it or strengthen an alternative bloc. The article does not identify how returning voters are distributed politically, so their final impact cannot be predicted from the available information.

Under proportional representation, parties receive Knesset seats broadly in proportion to their national vote totals. Voters choose party lists rather than a single local representative. The system aims to reflect the range of political views across the country, so several parties can win seats in the 120-member chamber.

The key mechanism is the translation of vote share into seats. A party winning a large share receives many lawmakers, while smaller qualifying parties receive fewer. Unless one party wins more than half the seats, no party has the 61-seat majority needed to govern securely by itself.

That structure makes coalition governments common. Parties must combine their seats and agree on a shared governing program. Coalition partners can gain influence because their support may be essential. In this election, the seat totals will determine whether Netanyahu’s rightwing coalition survives or whether different parties can assemble a new majority.