2021 Israeli legislative election explained

Country:Israel
Previous Election:2020
Next Election:2022
Election Date:23 March 2021[1]
Seats For Election:All 120 seats in the Knesset
Majority Seats:61
Turnout:67.44% (4.08 pp)
Party1:Likud
Leader1:Benjamin Netanyahu
Percentage1:24.19
Seats1:30
Last Election1:37
Party2:Yesh Atid
Leader2:Yair Lapid
Percentage2:13.93
Seats2:17
Last Election2:13
Party3:Shas
Leader3:Aryeh Deri
Percentage3:7.17
Seats3:9
Last Election3:9
Party4:Blue and White (political alliance)
Leader4:Benny Gantz
Percentage4:6.63
Seats4:8
Last Election4:15
Party5:Yamina
Leader5:Naftali Bennett
Percentage5:6.21
Seats5:7
Last Election5:3
Party6:Israeli Labor Party
Leader6:Merav Michaeli
Percentage6:6.09
Seats6:7
Last Election6:3
Party7:United Torah Judaism
Leader7:Moshe Gafni
Percentage7:5.63
Seats7:7
Last Election7:7
Party8:Yisrael Beiteinu
Leader8:Avigdor Lieberman
Percentage8:5.63
Seats8:7
Last Election8:7
Party9:Religious Zionist Party
Leader9:Bezalel Smotrich
Percentage9:5.12
Seats9:6
Last Election9:2
Party10:Joint List
Leader10:Ayman Odeh
Percentage10:4.82
Seats10:6
Last Election10:11
Party11:New Hope (Israel)
Leader11:Gideon Sa'ar
Percentage11:4.74
Seats11:6
Last Election11:new
Party12:Meretz
Leader12:Nitzan Horowitz
Percentage12:4.59
Seats12:6
Last Election12:3
Party13:United Arab List
Leader13:Mansour Abbas
Percentage13:3.79
Seats13:4
Last Election13:4
Prime Minister
Before Election:Benjamin Netanyahu
Before Party:Likud
After Election:Naftali Bennett
After Party:Yamina

Legislative elections were held in Israel on 23 March 2021 to elect the 120 members of the 24th Knesset. It was the fourth Knesset election in two years, amidst the continued political deadlock following the previous three elections in April 2019, September 2019 and 2020. Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett announced that they had formed a rotation government on 2 June 2021, which was approved on 13 June 2021.

Background

According to the coalition agreement signed between Likud and Blue and White in 2020, elections were to be held 36 months after the swearing-in of the 35th government, making 23 May 2023 the last possible election date. However, Israeli law stipulates that if the 2020 state budget was not passed by 23 December 2020, the Knesset would be dissolved, and elections would be held by 23 March 2021.[2]

On 2 December 2020, the Knesset passed the preliminary reading of a bill to dissolve the current government by a vote of 61–54.[3] On 21 December 2020, the Knesset failed to pass a bill to avoid dispersal by a vote of 47–49.[4] Since the Knesset had failed to approve the 2020 state budget by the required deadline, at midnight IST on 23 December 2020, the government coalition collapsed, and the 23rd Knesset was officially dissolved. In accordance with the law that the election must be held within 90 days after the dissolution of the Knesset, the date for elections to the 24th Knesset was automatically set for 23 March 2021.[5] Netanyahu was reported as facing a strong challenge from opposition parties.[6]

Electoral system

The 120 seats in the Knesset were elected by closed list proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency. The electoral threshold for this election was 3.25%.[7]

Surplus-vote agreements

Two parties could sign a surplus vote agreement that allowed them to compete for leftover seats as if they were running together on the same list. The Bader–Ofer method slightly favours larger lists, meaning that alliances are more likely to receive leftover seats than parties would be individually. If the alliance receives leftover seats, the Bader–Ofer calculation is applied privately, to determine how the seats are divided among the two allied lists.[8]

The following parties signed surplus vote-sharing agreements for the 2021 election:

Leadership elections and primaries

Leadership elections were held by some parties to determine party leadership ahead of the election. Primary elections were held by some parties in advance of the national election to determine the composition of their party list.

Balad

Knesset MK Sami Abu Shehadeh announced on 14 January 2021 that he would run for the leadership of Balad.[15] MK and former leader Mtanes Shehadeh sought re-election. The party held primaries on 23 January 2021 for its leader and its list for Knesset. The Balad council, which consists of a total of 600 members, were eligible to vote in Nazareth.[16] Abu Shehadeh was elected party leader by the Central Committee, with a total of 230 votes.[17]

Green Party

Stav Shaffir was re-elected as the head of Green Party on 29 January 2021.[18]

Jewish Home

On 5 January, incumbent Jewish Home party leader Rafi Peretz stated that he would not head the party and would not stand for re-election, but did not rule out a return to politics in the future.[19] Nir Orbach announced he would run for the leadership slot.[20] Hagit Moshe also ran (at Netanyahu's request).[21] The party's Central Committee selected its chair and party list, rather than holding a vote amongst party members.[22] Moshe was elected party leader by the Central Committee on 19 January 2021.[23] Party primaries were held on 26 January.[24]

Labor

See also: 2021 Israeli Labor Party leadership election.

The Tel Aviv District Court ruled on 3 January 2021 that primaries for Labor's Knesset list and leadership must take place, despite the fact that Amir Peretz and his supporters voted in favor of canceling them. MK Merav Michaeli announced she would run for party leadership shortly after.[25] Gil Beilin announced he would run on 11 January.[26] The Israeli High Court rejected an appeal by the Labor party, ensuring that all party members (instead of just committee members) will be able to vote in the primary.[27] Former Labor leader Ehud Barak announced on 18 January that he would not run,[28] while Itzik Shmuli announced the next day that he would not run. Avi Shaked and David Landsman,[29] Ethiopian immigrant Yitzhak Time,[30] and Na'ava Katz also ran.[31]

The vote for party leader was won by Michaeli on 24 January.[32]

The deadline for entering the Knesset primary was extended to 30 January; 59 candidates entered the race.[18] The primary election for choosing the Knesset slate took place 1 February.[33]

Likud

The Likud was ordered by its internal court to have its Constitutional Committee meet by 30 December to begin preparations for the selection of candidates for its electoral slate, following a petition filed by members of the party's Central Committee.[34] The party's Constitution Committee voted on 30 December to cancel party primaries,[35] which was made official on 2 January 2021.[36]

Meretz

Meretz would have held a leadership election on 13 January 2021, while a primary for the rest of its electoral list would have been held on 21 January.[37] However, the party decided on 3 January 2021 to not hold primaries as no one challenged Nitzan Horowitz, the party leader.[38]

Parties

See main article: Party lists for the 2021 Israeli legislative election.

See also: List of political parties in Israel.

Parliamentary factions

At the end of the 23rd Knesset, there were thirteen factions in parliament. The parties of these parliamentary factions are all fielding lists to compete in the 2021 elections, or are members of such lists, with the exception of The Jewish Home.

NameIdeologySymbolPrimary demographicLeader2020 resultAt the time
of dissolution
Votes (%)Seats
LikudConservatismBenjamin Netanyahu29.46%
Yesh Atid–TelemLiberalismYair Lapid, Moshe Ya'alon26.59%
Blue and WhiteLiberal ZionismBenny Gantz
Derekh EretzLiberal conservatismYoaz Hendel, Zvi Hauser
Joint ListMinority interestsIsraeli ArabsAyman Odeh12.67%
ShasReligious conservatismSephardi and
Mizrahi Haredim
Aryeh Deri7.69%
United Torah JudaismReligious conservatismYaakov Litzman5.98%
LaborAmir Peretz5.83%
MeretzSocial democracyNitzan Horowitz
GesherSocial liberalismOrly Levy
Yisrael BeiteinuNationalismRussian-speakersAvigdor Lieberman5.74%
YaminaNational conservatismNaftali Bennett5.24%
Jewish HomeReligious ZionismIsraeli settlers,
Modern Orthodox and Hardal Jews
Rafi Peretz

Contesting parties

A total of 39 parties registered to contest the elections.[39]

Party or allianceHead of listHebrew
ballot letter
Arabic
ballot letter
Am ShalemHaim Amsalem
Blue and WhiteBenny Gantz
Bible BlocDennis Lipkin
Common AllianceBishara Shlian
Da'am Workers PartyYoav Gal Tamir
Democratic Party (withdrawn)[40] Haim Cohen
The IsraelisYaron Regev
HetzLior Shapira
Hope for ChangeAbd el-Karim Abucaf
Human DignityArkadi Pogech
Israeli Labor PartyMerav Michaeli
Jewish HeartEli Yosef
LikudBenjamin Netanyahu
Joint ListAyman Odeh
KamaDorit Liat Biran
Ma'an (withdrawn)Mohammed Darawshe
Me and YouAlon Giladi
MeretzNitzan Horowitz
Mishpat TzedekLarissa Amir
New Economic PartyYaron Zelekha
New HopeGideon Sa'ar
New OrderAvital Ofek
New WorldYoram Edri
Atzmeinu (withdrawn)[41] Dotan Sofer
The Impossible – PossibleNoam Aryeh Coleman
Pirate PartyOhad Shem Tov
Rapeh only HealthAryeh Avni
Religious Zionist PartyBezalel Smotrich
ShasAryeh Deri
ShamaNaftali Baruch Goldman
Social Bang – PensionersTzion Yahav
Social LeadershipIlan Yar-Zanber
TzometMoshe Green
United Arab ListMansour Abbas
United Torah JudaismMoshe Gafni
UsMosh Huga
YaminaNaftali Bennett
Yesh AtidYair Lapid
Yisrael BeiteinuAvigdor Lieberman

Public expression of interest

The following parties, which did not have representation in the Knesset prior to the election, expressed interest in participating in the 2021 election, but ultimately chose not to contest it:

Not running

Opinion polls

See main article: Opinion polling for the 2021 Israeli legislative election.

Newspaper endorsements

The daily Haaretz endorsed four parties in the 2021 election: Meretz, the Joint List, Labor, and Yesh Atid.[51]

Results

Members of the Knesset who lost their seats

PartyNameYear electedSource
Blue and WhiteRuth Wasserman Lande2021[52]
Joint ListHeba Yazbak2019[53]
Yousef Jabareen2015
Sondos Saleh2020[54]
Jabar Asakla2019
LikudTali Ploskov2020
Uzi Dayan2020
Ariel Kallner2020
Osnat Mark2020
Amit Halevi2020
Nissim Vaturi2020
Shevah Stern2020
Ayoob Kara2020
Matti Yogev2020
New Hope2019
ShasYosef Taieb2020
United Arab ListIman Khatib-Yasin2020
United Torah Judaism2019
Eliyahu Baruchi2020
Yesh AtidMoshe Tur-Paz2020

Government formation

See main article: Thirty-sixth government of Israel. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin met with the heads of all political parties on 5 April,[55] and charged Benjamin Netanyahu with forming the government the next day.[56] Netanyahu had been given until the end of 4 May to form a government.[57] Netanyahu failed to form a new government by the deadline.[58] The next day, Rivlin entrusted Yair Lapid with the second mandate.[59] On 9 May 2021, it was reported that Lapid and Naftali Bennett had made major headway in the coalition talks.[60] [61] On 10 May, it was reported that plans were made to form a new government consisting of the current opposition, but that the Islamist Ra'am Party, which froze talks with both Lapid and Bennett in the wake of recent warfare in Gaza, still needed to pledge support for the Change bloc for the opposition MKs to secure a majority.[62] [63] In late May, Lapid secured the support from Blue and White, Labor Party, Yisrael Beiteinu, New Hope, and Meretz, with Yamina and Ra'am possibly giving support.[64] On 30 May 2021, Bennett announced in a televised address that Yamina would join a unity government with Lapid, after all but one Yamina MK agreed to back this decision.[65]

On 2 June 2021, following negotiations with Lapid and Bennett, Ra'am leader Mansour Abbas officially signed a coalition agreement with Lapid, and agreed to allow his party to join a non-Netanyahu government.[66] [67] Just an hour before his 2 June mandate was set to expire, Lapid informed outgoing president Reuven Rivlin that he could form a new government.[68] [69] [70] On 11 June 2021, Bennett's Yamina party became the last opposition faction to sign a coalition agreement with Lapid's Yesh Atid party, thus allowing the thirty-sixth government of Israel to be sworn in on 13 June.[71] Bennett became prime minister with Lapid as alternate prime minister, intended to take over as head of government in 2023.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Israel Election Results: Exit Polls and Real-time Vote Count Updates. Haaretz. 25 March 2021.
  2. News: The Knesset dispersal bill will inevitably be an anti-climax – analysis. The Jerusalem Post. 1 December 2020. 1 December 2020. Gil. Hoffman.
  3. News: Israel elections loom as lawmakers back bill to dissolve parliament. . 2 December 2020. 2 December 2020.
  4. News: Election prevention bill fails, Israel headed to elections on March 23. The Jerusalem Post. 22 December 2020. 21 December 2020. Gil. Hoffman.
  5. Web site: Israel calls 4th election in 2 years as Netanyahu-Gantz coalition collapses. Raoul. Wootliff. The Times of Israel. 23 December 2020.
  6. News: 23 March 2021. Israel's Netanyahu faces uphill battle as voters return to polls. en-GB. BBC News. 23 March 2021.
  7. News: With Bader-Ofer method, not every ballot counts. The Jerusalem Post. Lahav. Harkov. 16 March 2014.
  8. https://main.knesset.gov.il/EN/About/Lexicon/Pages/seats.aspx The Distribution of Knesset Seats Among the Lists—the Bader-Offer Method
  9. News: Four parties conspire against Netanyahu with vote deals. Gil. Hoffman. The Jerusalem Post. 4 January 2021.
  10. News: Azulay . Moran . Yesh Atid and Yisrael Beytenu sign surplus-vote sharing agreement . Ynetnews . 4 January 2021 . 4 January 2021.
  11. News: Azulay. Moran. Blue & White, New Economic Party sign surplus agreement . Ynetnews . 7 February 2021. 7 February 2021.
  12. News: Religious Zionist Party signs vote surplus deal with Likud . . 10 February 2021 . en.
  13. News: Harkov . Lahav . Hoffman . Gil . Netanyahu: Kahanist won't be in my government . The Jerusalem Post . 2 February 2021.
  14. News: Nachshoni . Kobi . Torah Judaism, Shas sign surplus agreement . Ynetnews . 8 March 2021. 8 March 2021.
  15. Web site: MK Samy Abu Shahadeh to run for Balad leadership. Arutz Sheva. 14 January 2021. 14 January 2021.
  16. Web site: Balad Party to elect leader on Saturday. Gil. Hoffman. The Jerusalem Post. 21 January 2021. 21 January 2021.
  17. Web site: Lawmaker Sami Abu Shehadeh Wins Leadership Primary in Israeli Arab Party Balad. Haaretz. 24 January 2021. 24 January 2021. Jack. Khoury.
  18. Web site: Israel elections: Dozens running for four seats in Labor. The Jerusalem Post. 30 January 2021. 30 January 2021. Gil. Hoffman.
  19. Web site: Rafi Peretz to quit politics as Jewish Home seeks to merge with Yamina once more. The Times of Israel. 5 January 2021. 5 January 2021.
  20. Web site: Nir Orbach looks to replace Rabbi Rafi Peretz as Jewish Home leader. Arutz Sheva. 5 January 2021. 5 January 2021.
  21. Web site: Bayit Yehudi to hold leadership primaries, Netanyahu interferes. 18 January 2021. 18 January 2021. The Jerusalem Post. Gil. Hoffman.
  22. Web site: Jewish Home Central Committee approves election of chairman and list. Arutz Sheva. 5 January 2021. 5 January 2021.
  23. Web site: Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Hagit Moshe to head Bayit Yehudi. Gil. Hoffman. The Jerusalem Post. 19 January 2021. 24 January 2021.
  24. IsraelexLive. 1354139822957408269. Results of the Jewish Home primaries. The party head, Hagit Moshe, was selected last week; the other seven candidates will appear in this order on whatever list the Jewish Home ends up running.. Twitter. 26 January 2021. 26 January 2021.
  25. Web site: Israel Elections: Court forces primaries in Labor Party. The Jerusalem Post. 3 January 2021. 3 January 2021. Gil. Hoffman.
  26. Web site: Gil Beilin announces he will run to head Labor Party . Arutz Sheva. 11 January 2021. 29 June 2022.
  27. IsraelexLive. 1349717944868204548. It's official: The High Court has rejected Labor's appeal. Labor will remain bound by the lower court's ruling forcing it to hold a full primary among all its members, rather than only those in its Central Committee.. 14 January 2021. 14 January 2021.
  28. Web site: Ehud Barak to not run for Labor leader. The Jerusalem Post. 18 January 2021. 18 January 2021. Gil Hoffman. Gil. Hoffman.
  29. Web site: Labor to Lose Another MK. Hamodia. 19 January 2021. 19 January 2021. Shmuel Smith.
  30. Web site: Ethiopian immigrant joins Labor leadership race. The Jerusalem Post. Gil Hoffman. Gil. Hoffman. 21 January 2021. 21 January 2021.
  31. Web site: Efrat councilwoman to run for leadership of Labor. Arutz Sheva. 21 January 2021. 21 January 2021.
  32. Web site: Victorious Michaeli to begin merger talks with Huldai. The Jerusalem Post. 24 January 2021. 24 January 2021. Gil Hoffman. Gil. Hoffman.
  33. Web site: Ex-commando, social activist, Reform rabbi take top slots in Labor primary. The Times of Israel. 2 February 2021. 3 February 2021. Raoul. Wootliff.
  34. Web site: Will there be primaries in the Likud?. Arutz Sheva. 27 December 2020. 27 December 2020. Hezki. Baruch.
  35. Web site: Likud cancels primary, lets Netanyahu choose 6 candidates. The Jerusalem Post. 30 December 2020. 30 December 2020. Lahav. Harkov.
  36. Web site: Likud officially cancels leadership primaries. The Jerusalem Post. 2 January 2021. 2 January 2021.
  37. IsraelexLive. 1343916638471671810. Meretz has scheduled its leadership election for January 13, and the primary election to populate the rest of the list on January 21.. 30 December 2020. 30 December 2020.
  38. Web site: Meretz agrees to nix primaries, adds 2nd Arab candidate in party's top 5. 3 January 2021. 9 March 2021. The Times of Israel.
  39. https://bechirot24.bechirot.gov.il/election/Candidates/Pages/default.aspx רשימות המועמדים, הכינויים והאותיות שהתבקשו מוועדת הבחירות המרכזית לכנסת ה-24
  40. Web site: Debate unlikely despite Netanyahu agreeing to Lapid challenge. The Jerusalem Post. 16 March 2021. 16 March 2021. Gil Hoffman.
  41. News: 18 March 2021 . מפלגה נוספת פורשת: העצמאים יתמכו בכחול לבן . Hebrew . Srugim . 21 March 2021.
  42. Web site: יהב מקים מפלגה חדשה: "50 אחוז מהרשימה – ערבים" • רדיו חיפה 107.5. 5 January 2021. he.
  43. Web site: Four parties conspire against Netanyahu with vote deals. The Jerusalem Post. 4 January 2021. 4 January 2021. Gil. Hoffman.
  44. Web site: Huldai announces he won't run either. 4 February 2021. 4 February 2021. Arutz Sheva.
  45. Web site: Parties start registering slates for Knesset election, unveiling candidates. 3 February 2021. The Times of Israel. 3 February 2021.
  46. Web site: Pensioners party pulls out of Knesset race . 3 February 2021. Israel Hayom. 3 February 2021.
  47. Web site: Israel Elections: Bayit Yehudi Party not running in election. 4 February 2021. The Jerusalem Post. Gil Hoffman. 4 February 2021.
  48. News: Telem chief Moshe Yaalon drops out of Knesset race. Arutz Sheva. Hezki. Baruch. 1 February 2021. 1 February 2021.
  49. News: Ofer Shelah quits political race following failed merger talks with Labor. The Jerusalem Post. 4 February 2021. 4 February 2021.
  50. News: Feiglin won't run in election; decries fixation on personas rather than ideas. The Times of Israel. Michael. Bachner. 24 December 2020. 24 December 2020.
  51. News: Israel Election: One Danger, Four Answers. Editorial. Haaretz.
  52. Web site: Renegades, rabble-rousers, TV anchors, army chiefs: The MKs who won't be back. . 30 March 2021. 5 April 2021.
  53. News: Israel Election Results: Voters Left These Lawmakers Out of the Next Knesset. Haaretz . 25 March 2021. 17 April 2021.
  54. News: Israel Election Results: Arab Parties Take Stock After Failure in Polls. Haaretz . 26 March 2021. 17 April 2021.
  55. Web site: Netanyahu secures most nominations for PM; Rivlin to tap candidate Tuesday. 6 April 2021. 5 April 2021. The Times of Israel. en-US.
  56. News: Rivlin hands Netanyahu mandate to form coalition despite low chance of success. 6 April 2021. Gil Hoffman. 6 April 2021. The Jerusalem Post.
  57. News: In Crunch Time, Right-wing Leader Bennett Says Netanyahu 'Doesn't Have a Government'. Jonathan. Lis. Haaretz. 3 May 2021. 3 May 2021.
  58. News: As Netanyahu's Coalition Deadline Expires, Lapid Seen Likely to Get the Nod. Jonathan. Lis. Jack. Khoury. Haaretz. 4 May 2021. 4 May 2021.
  59. News: Lapid, Bennett hope to form government within a week. Gil. Hoffman. The Jerusalem Post. 5 May 2021. 5 May 2021.
  60. News: Lapid, Bennett make major headway in coalition talks: reports. I24 News. 9 May 2021. 10 May 2021.
  61. News: Report: Lapid, Bennett make major headway in coalition talks. Yehuda. Shlezinger. Israel Hayom. 10 May 2021. 10 May 2021.
  62. News: 'Change bloc' seeking to swear in new government as early as Tuesday . Raoul . Wootliff . Tal . Schneider. . 9 May 2021 . 9 May 2021.
  63. News: Ra'am freezes coalition talks with 'change bloc', amid violence . Alexander . Fulbright. . 10 May 2021 . 10 May 2021.
  64. News: Israel Election: Bennett Expected to Announce Coalition Deal With Lapid Within Days, Source Says. 29 May 2021. Haaretz.
  65. News: With his party's support, Bennett says he's heading into government with Lapid. The Times of Israel. 30 May 2021. 30 May 2021.
  66. News: Mansour Abbas signs coalition agreement to unseat Benjamin Netanyahu. The National. 2 June 2021. 2 June 2021.
  67. News: Lapid expected to The Tell President He Has Succeeded in Forming a Government. Michael Hauser. Tov. Haaretz. 2 June 2021. 2 June 2021.
  68. Web site: Coalition deals signed. The Jerusalem Post. 2 June 2021. 2 June 2021.
  69. Web site: Lapid, Bennett hope to form government within a week. live. 2 June 2021. The Jerusalem Post. 5 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210505151515/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/rivlin-to-meet-lapid-bennett-as-consultations-begin-667245 . 5 May 2021 .
  70. Web site: What happens now: A timetable of the process to (maybe) form a government. live. 2 June 2021. The Times of Israel. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20210326154427/https://www.timesofisrael.com/what-happens-now-a-timetable-of-the-process-to-maybe-form-a-government/ . 26 March 2021 .
  71. News: Lapid finalizes coalition deals with all parties in incoming 'change government'. The Times of Israel. 11 June 2021. 12 June 2021.