Israel
Parliament
Election results
Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections
Background
Election date(s)
The date when elections started and ended for directly or indirectly elected parliaments/chambers. The date of appointments for appointed parliaments/chambers.
02.03.2020
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature
Date at which the previous legislature (elected at the previous elections) was dissolved.
15.03.2020
Timing of election
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry; Early elections; Delayed elections
Early election
Number of seats at stake
Number of seats contested at the elections. Where the parliament/chamber is fully renewed, this number is usually identical to the statutory number of members. Where the parliament/chamber is partially renewed or appointed, the number of seats at stake is usually less than the total number of members.
120
Scope of elections
Scope of elections: Full renewal; Partial renewal.
Full renewal
Voter turnout
Registration
Number of people registered to vote
6,453,255
Votes
Number of people who actually voted
4,615,135
Voter turnout
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of people who actually voted by the number of people registered to vote
71.52%
Results
About the election
Short description of the context and results of the election.
Acting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party came first in the third snap elections held in less than one year . It took 36 seats in the 120-member Knesset, taking three seats more than the Blue and White coalition (led by former army chief Benny Gantz). The Joint List (led by Mr. Ayman Odeh, comprising Arab-majority parties) remained the third largest party with 15 seats, up from 13. On 26 March, the new legislature elected Mr. Gantz as its new Speaker.
As was the case in the two previous snap elections in 2019 (following which, no government had been formed), lengthy coalition talks followed. Neither Mr. Netanyahu (seeking a record fifth term in office) nor Mr. Gantz managed to form governing coalitions and President Reuven Rivlin refused to give additional time for the coalition talks. Although Mr. Gantz initially refused to join the government led by Mr. Netanyahu due to the criminal charges brought against the latter , the COVID-19 pandemic subsequently pushed the two largest forces to form a unity government, which was sworn in on 17 May (see note 1). Mr. Netanyahu will serve as Prime Minister for the first 18 months and Mr. Gantz will serve out the remainder (see note 2). The major electoral issues included the annexation of a part of the occupied West Bank, in particular, the Jordan Valley .
Note 1:
Before the formation of the new government, 16 members, including former Finance Minister Yair Lapid, left the Blue and White coalition in protest against the coalition’s deal with Likud and formed a new faction (Yesh Atid-Telem) in the Knesset. Two members left the new faction and formed Derech Eretz (The Way of the Land) which in turn joined the unity government.
Note 2:
On 15 May, Mr. Gantz resigned as Speaker ahead of his appointment as Alternate Prime Minister . On 17 May, the Knesset elected Mr. Yariv Levin (Likud) as Speaker.
As was the case in the two previous snap elections in 2019 (following which, no government had been formed), lengthy coalition talks followed. Neither Mr. Netanyahu (seeking a record fifth term in office) nor Mr. Gantz managed to form governing coalitions and President Reuven Rivlin refused to give additional time for the coalition talks. Although Mr. Gantz initially refused to join the government led by Mr. Netanyahu due to the criminal charges brought against the latter , the COVID-19 pandemic subsequently pushed the two largest forces to form a unity government, which was sworn in on 17 May (see note 1). Mr. Netanyahu will serve as Prime Minister for the first 18 months and Mr. Gantz will serve out the remainder (see note 2). The major electoral issues included the annexation of a part of the occupied West Bank, in particular, the Jordan Valley .
Note 1:
Before the formation of the new government, 16 members, including former Finance Minister Yair Lapid, left the Blue and White coalition in protest against the coalition’s deal with Likud and formed a new faction (Yesh Atid-Telem) in the Knesset. Two members left the new faction and formed Derech Eretz (The Way of the Land) which in turn joined the unity government.
Note 2:
On 15 May, Mr. Gantz resigned as Speaker ahead of his appointment as Alternate Prime Minister . On 17 May, the Knesset elected Mr. Yariv Levin (Likud) as Speaker.
Number of parties winning seats
The number of parties which won parliamentary representation in the given election.
8
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of seats won by the largest party by the number of seats at stake in the election.
30%
Alternation of power after elections
The results of the elections caused a change in the government. "Not applicable" to countries using the presidential system when parliamentary and presidential elections are held separately, to countries in political transition or where there is no party system.
Not applicable
Note on the alternation of power
No government was formed after the September 2019 elections.
Number of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
8
Names of parties in government
The government may be formed by one or more political parties
Likud, Blue and White, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Labour, Gesher, Derech Eretz, Yemina
Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group | Total |
---|---|
Likud | 36 |
Blue and White | 33 |
Joint List | 15 |
Shas | 9 |
United Torah Judaism (Yahadut Hatorah) | 7 |
Labour-Gesher-Meretz | 7 |
Yisrael Beiteinu | 7 |
Yemina | 6 |
Members elected, by sex
Number of men elected
90
Number of women elected
30
Percentage of women elected
The percentage is calculated by dividing the number of women elected in the election and the number of seats at stake at the election.
25%
Note on the Distribution of seats according to sex
In the 2020 elections, 30 women were elected but one of them was not sworn into the Knesset due to health reasons and was replaced by a male next-in-line candidate of the same party (Blue & White).
Consequently, there were 29 women at the first session held on 16 March.
Consequently, there were 29 women at the first session held on 16 March.
Other notes
Note on the Expected date of next elections:
*The first Tuesday of the month of Cheshvan in 2024, given that the outgoing legislature was elected through early elections and the year preceding 2024 is a leap year according to the Jewish calendar.
*The first Tuesday of the month of Cheshvan in 2024, given that the outgoing legislature was elected through early elections and the year preceding 2024 is a leap year according to the Jewish calendar.
Sources
Knesset (04.03.2020, 12.03.2020, 19.03.2020, 27.03.2020)
https://votes23.bechirot.gov.il/nationalresults
https://main.knesset.gov.il/en/mk/government/Pages/governments.aspx
https://main.knesset.gov.il/en/mk/government/Pages/governments.aspx
BBC
BBC Monitoring
https://www.haaretz.com
https://votes23.bechirot.gov.il/nationalresults
https://main.knesset.gov.il/en/mk/government/Pages/governments.aspx
https://main.knesset.gov.il/en/mk/government/Pages/governments.aspx
BBC
BBC Monitoring
https://www.haaretz.com
Women Directly Elected
30
New legislature
Total number of men after the election
The total number of male parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
90
Total number of women after the election
The total number of female parliamentarians in this parliament/chamber following the election or renewal, regardless of their modes of designation.
30
First-term parliamentarians
The number of members who are assuming their parliamentary mandate for the first time following the election or renewal, regardless of their mode of designation.
3
Date of the first session
The date when the newly elected parliament/chamber was convened for the first time. It may be different from the date when members were sworn in.
16.03.2020
First Speaker of the new legislature
First Speaker of the new legislature
First name of the Speaker of the new legislature following the election or renewal.
Benjamin (Benny)
Gantz
(Male)
Political party
Blue and White
Date of election
26.03.2020