Israel Holds Parliamentary Elections, First Since October 7 Attack

Israel is holding parliamentary elections today. These are the first elections since Hamas carried out its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

According to Reuters, voting begins at 7:00 local time and ends at 22:00. Once voting closes, Israeli television channels will publish exit poll results, which will provide a first picture of the election outcome. The final count of votes is expected by October 30, and official results will be published within a week.

The 120-seat Knesset elections are supposed to be held once every four years, but early elections are often held as well. Seats are allocated to party lists under a proportional system, and parties must pass a 3.25% threshold to win a mandate.

After the final vote count, President Isaac Herzog will consult with party leaders to determine who they would like to see as prime minister. He will then nominate the candidate who, in his view, has the best chance of forming a government. The chosen candidate will have up to 42 days to form a government.

According to Reuters, no party in Israel has ever won a majority on its own, so the government is formed as a coalition, and negotiations often drag on for weeks. If a candidate fails to form a government, the chance will be given to others. If a government ultimately cannot be formed, new elections are called, and the outgoing cabinet continues to work as a caretaker government.