Israel Holds 120-Seat Knesset Vote as Netanyahu Fights to Keep Power
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Oct 27
Israel Holds 120-Seat Knesset Vote as Netanyahu Fights to Keep Power
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Oct 27
Summary
Polls opened at 7 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Tuesday, with exit polls due immediately after voting ends and the first indications of whether Netanyahu or his centrist rivals can assemble a majority.
A clear winner may not emerge quickly because Israel’s 120 Knesset seats are allocated by proportional representation and parties must clear a 3.25% threshold, leaving about a dozen lists in contention.
October 30 is the expected date for the final tally, while official results are published on November 4 after seat allocation is completed.
President Isaac Herzog then consults party leaders and nominates a prime minister-designate, who gets up to 42 days to build a coalition; if no one succeeds, Israel heads to another election with the current cabinet as caretaker.
Can Benny Eisenkot unite a deeply fractured opposition to reach 61 seats, or is Israel doomed to another cycle of political paralysis?
If the opposition shares Netanyahu's hardline stance on Palestinian statehood, will changing the prime minister actually alter Israel's future trajectory?
With the election just days away, could a tiny fringe party failing to reach the electoral threshold unexpectedly save Netanyahu's political career?