2013 Elections

Israeli Elections 2013

  • 1/23/2013
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    The Numbers:  
    The Central Election Committee has released the results of the elections, based on 99.5% of the votes, and the expected allocation of seats in the 19th Knesset:
     
    • Likud Beiteinu - 31 (23.25%)
    • Yesh Atid - 19 (14.19%)
    • Labor - 15 (11.45%)
    • Shas - 11 (8.83%)
    • Habayit Hayehudi - 12 (8.76%)
    • United Torah Judaism - 7 (5.31%)
    • Hatnuah - 6 (5.02%)
    • Meretz - 6 (4.59%)
    • United Arab List - Ta'al - 4 (3.80%)
    • Hadash - 4 (3.12%)
    • Balad - 3 (2.66%)
    • Kadima - 2 (2.09%)

    According to the Central Election Committee, 66.6% of Israelis exercised their right to vote. Out of some 3.767 million votes cast, only about 40,000 were disqualified. Voter turnout was the highest since 1999.

    Nearly half of the 19th Knesset seats will be filled by fresh faces, and statistics show that the next Knesset will probably include 26 women - the highest ever in Israel.
     
    Israel's elections reflect the strong democratic tradition of the State of Israel. Election campaigns are a lively affair, accompanied by vigorous debate of the issues. Israelis take great interest in political affairs, including internal policy and foreign relations, and actively participate in the electoral process.
     
    Click here for more information and updates about the 2013 Israeli Elections, the electoral process, the Israeli political system and parties competing in the elections.
     
    Forming the government:
    The government (cabinet of ministers) is the executive authority of the state, charged with administering internal and foreign affairs, including security matters. Like the Knesset, the government usually serves for four years, but its tenure may be shortened if the prime minister is unable to continue in office due to death, permanent incapacitation, resignation, or impeachment, when the government appoints one of its members (who is a Knesset member) as acting prime minister.
     
    When a new government is to be formed, the President of the State - after consulting with representatives of the parties elected to the Knesset - assigns the task of forming the government to a Knesset member. This Knesset member is usually the leader of the party with the largest Knesset representation or the head of the party that leads a coalition with more than 60 members.
     
    Since a government requires the Knesset's confidence to function, it must have a supporting coalition of at least 61 of the 120 Knesset members. To date, no party has received enough Knesset seats to be able to form a government by itself; thus all Israeli governments have been based on coalitions of several parties, with those remaining outside the government making up the opposition.
     
    The Knesset member to whom the task is assigned has a period of 28 days to form a government. The President may extend the term by an additional period of time, not exceeding 14 days.
    If this period (up to 42 days) has passed and the designated Knesset member has not succeeded in forming a government, the President may then assign the task of forming a government to another Knesset member. This Knesset member has a period of 28 days for the fulfillment of the task.
    If a government still has not been formed, an absolute majority of Knesset members (61) has the option of applying in writing to the President, asking him to assign the task to a particular Knesset member. Such a precedent has yet to occur.
     
    When a government has been formed, the designated prime minister presents it to the Knesset within 45 days of publication of election results in the official gazette. At this time, he announces its composition, the basic guideline of its policy and the distribution of functions among its ministers. The prime minister then asks the Knesset for an expression of confidence. The government is installed when the Knesset has expressed confidence in it by a majority of 61 Knesset members, and then the ministers assume office.