Election issues dividing Israelis as they vote put Netanyahu’s hold on power under pressure
A close contest for power
Eisenkot’s Yashar party has polled higher than Netanyahu’s Likud party. Arab parties are projected to play a kingmaker role in post-election coalition talks.
Who can cast a ballot
The US-based America-Israel Democracy Coalition organized a “Fly&Vote” initiative, with as many as 67,000 voters expected to return to Israel, based on surveys and registration data. The coalition said half are coming from the United States, with others traveling from Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand; Israel does not have postal voting.
How the government is formed
Israelis elect a party list to the Knesset, rather than choosing a prime minister directly. The legislature has 120 seats, distributed roughly in proportion to each party’s share of the vote.
No party has ever won an outright majority, so Israel has always been governed by coalitions. Polls suggest this election will also require coalition government.
Key points
- Eisenkot’s Yashar party has polled higher than Netanyahu’s Likud party.
- Arab parties are projected to influence post-election coalition talks.
- Israelis elect party lists, and a government needs support from at least 61 of the Knesset’s 120 seats.