Israelis headed to the polls on Tuesday for the nation’s first parliamentary election since the October 7, 2023 attacks, setting off a high-stakes race that will decide Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s political future. Polling stations opened at 7:00 a.m. local time and will close at 10:00 p.m., after which major television networks will broadcast exit polls showing estimated seat distributions in the Knesset.
Timeline for Official Results
Actual results will emerge gradually as vote counting continues across the country. Officials expect to finish counting votes by October 30, with official election results scheduled for publication on November 4.
The Path to a Majority
The Knesset consists of 120 seats allocated through a proportional representation system based on party lists. To secure parliamentary seats, parties must clear an electoral threshold of at least 3.25 percent of the total valid votes. Estimates indicate that around 12 parties may cross this threshold, likely dividing seats among a wide array of political forces.
Because no single party has ever won an absolute majority in Israel’s history, forming a government hinges on building multi-party alliances. Centrist parties promising a fresh political chapter are actively competing against Netanyahu’s effort to stay in office.
Presidential Consultations and Negotiations
Following the official announcement of results, Israeli President Isaac Herzog will hold consultations with leaders of the elected parties. President Herzog will then task the candidate deemed most capable of securing a parliamentary majority with forming a government, a role not automatically given to the leader of the largest single party.
The designated prime minister will have up to 42 days to negotiate and finalize a governing coalition. If those negotiations fail, the presidential mandate may be reassigned to another candidate, or Israel could be forced into another election while the existing government remains in a caretaker role.
