Israel’s election is decided through a nationwide proportional system in which voters choose party lists rather than individual candidates. The results determine the make-up of the 120-member Knesset, the country’s unicameral parliament.
There are no local constituencies. Instead, each party submits an ordered list of candidates before polling day, with the number of seats it wins determining how many candidates from that list enter the Knesset.
The central target for the parties is 61 seats, the number required to form a government. A coalition can govern with fewer seats, but it would be more vulnerable and less durable.
How the Israeli election system works
The system means that a party’s share of the national vote is broadly reflected in its representation in parliament. At the 2022 election, Benjamin Netanyahu’s conservative Likud party won 23 per cent of the vote and received 32 Knesset seats.
The centrist Yesh Atid party secured 18 per cent of the vote at the same election, translating into 24 seats.
Parties must win at least 3.25 per cent of the vote to enter the Knesset. Votes cast for parties that fall below that threshold do not contribute to parliamentary representation.
That threshold can significantly affect the balance of power. In 2022, two left-wing parties narrowly failed to qualify, leaving nearly 290,000 votes without representation and assisting Netanyahu’s return to power.
For smaller parties, standing together on a joint list can therefore be a way to maximise their support and improve their chances of crossing the threshold.
