Israeli election set for October 27 with uncertain outcome

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 23 Oct, 18:32 · Archive

Israelis vote on October 27 to elect the Knesset, with no party likely to secure an outright majority.

Israelis will head to the polls on October 27 to cast their vote to elect the Knesset after three years of war in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking another term after 18 years in power, but is facing a tight race with Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party, a former head of the Israel Defence Forces. Neither he nor the opposition has a clear path to a governing majority.

Israeli elections are based on nationwide proportional representation. Citizens cast votes for a single party, not individual candidates, and each party's number of seats is determined by the proportion of the national vote it receives. To enter the Knesset, a party must receive at least 3.25 per cent of the vote, or four seats. Polls open at 7am local time and close at 10pm. Official results will be confirmed on November 4, though the entire process of forming a government could take 20 to 100 days, with no government sworn in less than 50 days historically.

Historically, no single party has won a majority, so governments are formed by coalition. If no one manages to form a coalition with a 61-seat majority, citizens return to the ballot box. There are 38 different parties contesting the election, though most will not secure enough votes for a seat. Israel's Arab parties could play a significant role in determining the election's outcome.

How it is being reported

• Israel: Could Arab parties play kingmaker in the next Knesset ?As Israelis head to the polls for the first legislative election since Hamas's October 7 attacks, neither Prime Minister Benjamin #Netanyahu's Likud party nor former army chief of staff Gadi #Eisenkot's Yashar party are likely to win a majority of seats in the #Knesset. Turns out, #Israel's Arab parties could have a say in the election's outcome.France 24 · 23 Oct, 18:11
• How will the Israeli election work and when will the result be announced?Netanyahu is facing a tight race with Yashar’s Gadi Eisenko, a former head of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF)Independent World · 23 Oct, 16:23

In this story: Benjamin Netanyahu · Gadi Eisenkot · Yashar · Likud · Knesset · Israel · Gaza · Lebanon

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