Yesterday I met a rather new member of our community who shared with me how she thought how little American Jewry knew about the Israeli political system. She is/was right. Even professionals whose work involves Israel often view its politics through an American lens. With another Israeli election approaching this Fall, I though a brief primer might be helpful.
For those accustomed to America's largely two-party system, Israel's parliamentary democracy can seem bewildering. Despite the constant political maneuvering dominating the headlines, Israel has not yet finalized an official election date. By law, elections must be held by late October, but the Knesset has been consumed by debates, legislation, and negotiations over whether to dissolve itself early and head to the polls sooner.
The reason lies at the heart of Israel's political system. Israelis do not vote directly for a prime minister. Instead, they cast their ballots for a political party. After the election, the leader most likely to assemble a governing majority is asked to form a coalition.
That is no easy task. No party has ever won an outright majority of the Knesset's 120 seats. To govern, a coalition must control at least 61 seats. As a result, even a party that wins only six or seven seats can become indispensable if those seats are needed to reach that majority.
Israel's electoral system encourages this dynamic. Any party receiving at least 3.25 percent of the national vote earns representation in the Knesset. That relatively low threshold allows numerous smaller parties to enter parliament, giving them outsized influence when coalition negotiations begin.
Coalitions often include parties with sharply different priorities and constituencies. When disagreements become irreconcilable, a coalition can lose its majority and collapse, forcing new elections before a government completes its full term. That is one reason Israelis have gone to the polls so frequently over the past decade.
The result is a political landscape far more diverse than most Americans are used to seeing. The traditional right is represented by Likud. New centrist and security-focused movements, such as the surging Yashar party, are challenging the established order. The newly formed Together alliance seeks to unite secular and center-right voters. Alongside them are ultra-Orthodox parties such as Shas, nationalist parties including Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power), and Arab parties representing Israel's Arab citizens. Each appeals to a distinct segment of Israeli society, and each can play a pivotal role in determining who ultimately governs.
At the center of the current campaign are several familiar figures. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader, is seeking another term while trying to hold together his right-wing coalition. He faces a significant challenge from Gadi Eisenkot, the widely respected former IDF Chief of Staff, whose Yashar party has climbed steadily in recent public opinion polls. Meanwhile, former Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid have joined forces under the Together banner, hoping to recreate the broad coalition that briefly ended Netanyahu's previous tenure.
The stakes are exceptionally high. Israelis are voting in a country transformed by war, security concerns, and deep internal divisions. The election will shape not only who serves as prime minister, but also the direction of the country in the years ahead.
Ultimately, the party that wins the most seats is not necessarily the party that forms the next government. Success depends on something more difficult: assembling a coalition of at least 61 members of the Knesset who are willing to govern together. That reality, more than any headline or opinion poll, is the key to understanding Israeli politics.
Here in Western Massachusetts, our Jewish community reflects many of the same diverse perspectives found in Israel itself. Around our Shabbat tables, in our synagogues, and at community gatherings, people hold different views about Israeli politics, security, religion, peace, and the country's future. Those differences are real, but they are rooted in something we share: a deep connection to Israel and a sincere desire to see it flourish as a secure, democratic, and vibrant Jewish homeland.
Understanding how Israel's political system works does not require us to agree with every government or every policy. It simply helps us appreciate the extraordinary complexity of governing a nation that is both ancient and modern, deeply divided yet remarkably resilient. As Israel faces profound challenges and extraordinary opportunities in the years ahead, may we continue to approach these conversations with curiosity, humility, and respect—strengthening not only our understanding of Israel, but also one another.
