April 2019 Israeli legislative election

{{Infobox legislative election

| country = Israel

| previous_election = 2015

| next_election = Sept 2019

| election_date = 9 April 2019

| seats_for_election= All 120 seats in the Knesset

| majority_seats = 61

| turnout = 68.46% ({{decrease}} 3.88pp)

| party1 = Likud

| leader1 = {{nowrap|Benjamin Netanyahu}}

| percentage1 = 26.46

| last_election1 = 30

| seats1 = 35

| party2 = Blue and White

| leader2 = Benny Gantz

| percentage2 = 26.13

| last_election2 = 11

| seats2 = 35

| party3 = Shas

| leader3 = Aryeh Deri

| percentage3 = 5.99

| last_election3 = 7

| seats3 = 8

| party4 = United Torah Judaism

| leader4 = Yaakov Litzman

| percentage4 = 5.78

| last_election4 = 6

| seats4 = 8

| party5 = Hadash–Ta'al

| leader5 = Ayman Odeh

| percentage5 = 4.49

| last_election5 = 6

| seats5 = 6

| party6 = Israeli Labor Party

| leader6 = Avi Gabbay

| percentage6 = 4.43

| last_election6 = 19

| seats6 = 6

| party7 = Yisrael Beiteinu

| leader7 = Avigdor Lieberman

| percentage7 = 4.01

| last_election7 = 6

| seats7 = 5

| party8 = URWP

| leader8 = Rafi Peretz

| percentage8 = 3.70

| last_election8 = 8

| seats8 = 5

| party9 = Meretz

| leader9 = Tamar Zandberg

| percentage9 = 3.63

| last_election9 = 5

| seats9 = 4

| party10 = Kulanu

| leader10 = Moshe Kahlon

| percentage10 = 3.54

| last_election10 = 10

| seats10 = 4

| party11 = Ra'am–Balad

| color11 = {{party color|United Arab List}}

| leader11 = Mansour Abbas

| percentage11 = 3.33

| last_election11 = 7

| seats11 = 4

| title = Prime Minister

| before_election = Benjamin Netanyahu

| before_party = Likud

| after_election = Benjamin Netanyahu (caretaker government)

| after_party = Likud

}}

Early legislative elections were held in Israel on 9 April 2019 to elect the 120 members of the 21st Knesset. Elections had been due in November 2019, but were brought forward following a dispute between members of the current government over a bill on national service for the ultra-Orthodox population, as well as impending corruption charges against incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu's Likud tied with Blue and White alliance of Benny Gantz, both winning 35 seats. The balance of power was held by smaller parties, with a majority being right-wing and religious parties that had previously sat in coalition with Likud, which would have allowed Netanyahu to form the next government.

Due to continuation of the disagreements over the national service of the ultra-Orthodox, a snap election was called and was held on 17 September 2019.

Background

{{further|Thirty-fourth government of Israel|List of members of the twentieth Knesset}}

Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman had opposed a draft law (supported by the ultra-Orthodox parties) which would allow full-time Torah students exemptions from serving in the IDF.{{cite news|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5161067,00.html|title=Netanyahu to meet with Lieberman over coalition crisis |date=12 March 2018|website=Ynetnews|access-date=12 March 2018|last1=Azulay |first1=Moran }} Meretz and Yesh Atid submitted a proposal on 12 March 2018 seeking the dissolution of the Knesset.{{cite news|url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5160485,00.html|title=Meretz, Yesh Atid seek to dissolve the Knesset |date=12 March 2018|website=Ynetnews|access-date=12 March 2018|last1=Azulay |first1=Moran }} Early elections were averted at that point in time.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-last-minute-deal-coalition-okays-compromise-to-dodge-early-elections/|title=In last-minute deal, coalition okays compromise to dodge early elections|date=13 March 2018|website=The Times of Israel|access-date=14 March 2018}}

Lieberman would eventually leave the government over the cease-fire with Hamas in Gaza.{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-lieberman-steps-down-and-the-timing-couldn-t-be-worse-for-netanyahu-1.6654265|title=Explained // Defense Minister Resigns, Firing First Salvo of Israeli Elections. The Timing Couldn't Be Worse for Netanyahu|last=Pfeffer|first=Anshel|date=14 November 2018|work=Haaretz|access-date=14 November 2018|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-46207094|title=Israel defence minister resigns over Gaza|date=14 November 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=14 November 2018|language=en-GB}} This leaves the governing coalition with 61 seats (out of 120 in total).{{Cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-liberman-quits-looming-draft-law-deadline-puts-netanyahu-under-the-gun/|title=As Liberman quits, looming draft law deadline puts Netanyahu under the gun|access-date=14 November 2018|language=en-US|work=Times of Israel|author=Marissa Newman}} The Jewish Home announced on 16 November 2018 that it would leave the government, as Naftali Bennett (the head of the party) was not given Lieberman's former Defense Ministry post.{{Cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-heads-toward-elections-as-jewish-home-says-will-leave-coalition/|title=Israel heads toward elections as Jewish Home says it will leave coalition|access-date=16 November 2018|language=en-US|work=Times of Israel|author=Raoul Wootliff}} Reports were that Netanyahu would not be giving the post to Bennett and was to meet with other coalition leaders on 18 November to determine a date for early election.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/11/16/middleeast/israel-elections-intl/index.html|title=Israel heading for early elections after turbulent week for Netanyahu|author=Oren Liebermann|work=CNN|access-date=16 November 2018}} However, after further discussion, Bennett decided to stay on as education minister, narrowly avoiding the collapse of the Netanyahu government again.{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/israels-fragile-coalition-survives-as-key-partner-reverses-withdrawal-threat-1542627954|title=Israeli Government Crisis Raises Fresh Doubts for U.S. Peace Plan|author1=Felicia Schwartz|author2=Dov Lieber|work=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=19 November 2018|language=en-US}} However, continued dysfunction over various issues, including military service for the ultra-Orthodox, caused parliament to dissolve and early elections to be called for 9 April 2019.{{Cite news|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/256756|title=It's final: 20th Knesset dissolved, Israel heading to elections|date=26 December 2018|work=Israel National News|access-date=22 February 2019}} Had early elections not been called, the regularly-scheduled elections would have taken place seven months later, on 5 November 2019.

Electoral system

The 120 seats in the Knesset are elected by closed list proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency. The electoral threshold for the election is 3.25%. In most cases, this implies a minimum party size of four seats, but on some occasions, a party can end up with three.{{cite news|title=With Bader-Ofer method, not every ballot counts|url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/With-Bader-Ofer-method-not-every-ballot-counts-394027|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=16 March 2014}}

While election day was on 9 April 2019, polls opened in embassies around the world on 28 March.{{cite tweet |author=Israel in Ireland |user=IsraelinIreland |number=1111235587749629954 |date=28 March 2019 |title=Early voting 🗳️is taking place today in #Israeli embassies around the world 🌍. H.E. Ophir Kariv and other Israelis working at the Embassy of #Israel in #Ireland are casting their vote! The elections take place in Israel on April 9th. #Israeltothepolls #Elections2019 #IsraElex19 https://t.co/n0CxCUKq0A |language=en |access-date=16 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507172233/https://twitter.com/IsraelinIreland/status/1111235587749629954 |archive-date=7 May 2019 |url-status=live}}

=Surplus-vote agreements=

image:20190409 091600 Polling station in Israel (cropped).jpg.]]

Two party lists can sign an agreement that allows them to compete for leftover seats as though they are running together on the same list. The Bader–Ofer method disproportionately favors larger lists, meaning that such an alliance is more likely to receive leftover seats than both of its comprising lists would be individually. If the alliance receives leftover seats, the Bader–Ofer calculation is then applied privately, to determine how the seats are divided among the two allied lists.[https://www.knesset.gov.il/lexicon/eng/seats_eng.htm The Distribution of Knesset Seats Among the Lists – the Bader-Offer Method], Knesset website The following agreements were signed by parties prior to the election:

Union of Right-Wing Parties and Likud{{cite news|title=Jewish Home signs vote sharing agreement with Likud|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/448589|work=Israel National News|date=20 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019}}
New Right and Yisrael Beiteinu{{cite news|title=New Right unveils Knesset slate featuring equal representation for women|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-right-unveils-knesset-slate-featuring-equal-representation-for-women/|work=Times of Israel|date=20 February 2019|access-date=25 February 2019}}
Meretz and Labor{{cite news|title=Labor and Meretz sign vote sharing agreement|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/449002|work=Israel National News|date=25 February 2019|access-date=25 February 2019}}
United Torah Judaism and Shas{{cite news|title=United Torah Judaism and Shas sign vote-sharing agreement|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/450087|work=Israel National News|date=6 March 2019|access-date=6 March 2019}}
Hadash–Ta'al and Balad-Ra'am{{Cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Raam-Balad-and-Hadash-Taal-586135|title=Ra'am-Balad and Hadash-Ta'al - Israel Elections|website=The Jerusalem Post|date=8 April 2019 |access-date=10 April 2019}}

Parliament factions

The table below lists the parliamentary factions represented in the 20th Knesset.

{| class="wikitable"

! rowspan="2" colspan=2| Name

! rowspan="2"| Ideology

! rowspan="2"| Symbol

! rowspan="2"| Primary demographic

! rowspan="2"| Leader

! colspan="2"| 2015 result

! rowspan="2" |Seats at 2018
dissolution

! Votes (%)

! Seats

| style="background:{{party color|Likud}};"|

| Likud

| Conservatism

| {{Script/Hebrew|מחל}}

| -

| Benjamin Netanyahu

| style="text-align:center;"|23.40%

| {{Composition bar|30|120|{{party color|Likud}}}}

|{{Composition bar|30|120|{{party color|Likud}}}}

| style="background:{{party color|Israeli Labor Party}};"|

| Labor

| Social democracy

| rowspan=2|{{Script/Hebrew|אמת}}

| -

| Avi Gabbay

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2|18.67%{{efn|name=A|Hatnua and the Labor Party ran as a joint list called the Zionist Union. Amir Peretz was elected as a member of Hatnua, but defected to Labor before the split.}}

| {{Composition bar|18|120|{{party color|Israeli Labor Party}}}}

| {{Composition bar|19|120|{{party color|Israeli Labor Party}}}}

| style="background:{{party color|Hatnuah}};"|

|Hatnua

|Liberalism

| -

|Tzipi Livni

|{{Composition bar|6|120|{{party color|Hatnua}}}}

|{{Composition bar|5|120|{{party color|Hatnua}}}}

| style="background:{{party color|Joint List}};"|

| Joint List

| Big tent

| rowspan=2|{{Script/Hebrew|ודעם}}

| Israeli Arabs

| Ayman Odeh

| style="text-align:center;" rowspan=2| 10.54%{{efn|name=B|Ta'al ran as part of the Joint List and split off before the 2019 elections. Due to rotation agreements, one seat Ta'al initially held in the Knesset rotated to other factions of the Joint List.}}

| {{Composition bar|11|120|{{party color|Joint List}}}}

|{{Composition bar|12|120|{{party color|Joint List}}}}

| style="background:{{party color|Ta'al}};"|

| Ta'al

| Arab nationalism

| Israeli Arabs

| Ahmad Tibi

| {{Composition bar|2|120|{{party color|Ta'al}}}}

|{{Composition bar|1|120|{{party color|Ta'al}}}}

| style="background:{{party color|Yesh Atid}};"|

| Yesh Atid

| Liberalism

| {{Script/Hebrew|פה}}

| -

| Yair Lapid

| style="text-align:center;"| 8.81%

| {{Composition bar|11|120|{{party color|Yesh Atid}}}}

|{{Composition bar|11|120|{{party color|Yesh Atid}}}}

| style="background:{{party color|Kulanu}};"|

| Kulanu

| Economic egalitarianism

| {{Script/Hebrew|כ}}

| -

| Moshe Kahlon

| style="text-align:center;"| 7.49%

| {{Composition bar|10|120|{{party color|Kulanu}}}}

|{{Composition bar|10|120|{{party color|Kulanu}}}}

| style="background:{{party color|The Jewish Home}};"|

| Jewish Home

| Religious Zionism
Religious conservatism

| {{Script/Hebrew|טב}}

| Modern Orthodox and
Chardal Jews

| Rafi Peretz

| style="text-align:center;"| 6.74%

| {{Composition bar|8|120|{{party color|The Jewish Home}}}}

|{{Composition bar|5|120|{{party color|The Jewish Home}}}}

| style="background:{{party color|Shas}};"|

| Shas

| Religious conservatism

| {{Script/Hebrew|שס}}

| Sephardic and
Mizrahi Haredim

| Aryeh Deri

| style="text-align:center;"| 5.73%

| {{Composition bar|7|120|{{party color|Shas}}}}

|{{Composition bar|7|120|{{party color|Shas}}}}

| style="background:{{party color|United Torah Judaism}};"|

| United Torah Judaism

| Religious conservatism

| {{Script/Hebrew|ג}}

| Ashkenazi Haredim

| Yaakov Litzman

| style="text-align:center;"| 5.03%

| {{Composition bar|6|120|{{party color|United Torah Judaism}}}}

|{{Composition bar|6|120|{{party color|United Torah Judaism}}}}

| style="background:{{party color|Yisrael Beiteinu}};"|

| Yisrael Beiteinu

| Nationalism
Secularism

| {{Script/Hebrew|ל}}

| Russian-speakers

| Avigdor Lieberman

| style="text-align:center;"| 5.11%

| {{Composition bar|6|120|{{party color|Yisrael Beiteinu}}}}

|{{Composition bar|5|120|{{party color|Yisrael Beiteinu}}}}

| style="background:{{party color|Meretz}};"|

| Meretz

| Social democracy
Secularism

| {{Script/Hebrew|מרצ}}

| -

| Tamar Zandberg

| style="text-align:center;"| 3.93%

| {{Composition bar|5|120|{{party color|Meretz}}}}

|{{Composition bar|5|120|{{party color|Meretz}}}}

| style="background: {{party color|New Right (Israel)}};"|

|New Right

|National conservatism

| {{Script/Hebrew|נ}}

| -

|Naftali Bennett,
Ayelet Shaked

| colspan="2" |{{Center|N/A}}

|{{Composition bar|3|120|{{party color|New Right (Israel)}}}}

|style="background:{{party color|Independent (politician)}}"|

|Independent

| -

|Orly Levy

| colspan="2" |{{Center|N/A}}

|{{Composition bar|1|120|{{party color|Independent (politician)}}}}

=Public expression of interest=

The Zehut Party, under the leadership of Moshe Feiglin, was founded in 2015 for the purpose of running in the Knesset elections as a right-wing libertarian Zionist party.{{cite web|url=https://zehut.org.il/zehut-platform/?lang=en|title=Zehut Platform|last=tzvimoshe|website=Zehut|language=en-US|access-date=21 February 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://en.idi.org.il/israeli-elections-and-parties/parties/zehut/|title=Zehut|website=en.idi.org.il|access-date=21 February 2019}} It held Israel's first open primaries on 29 January 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Open-primaries-are-good-for-all-Israelis-and-good-for-Israel-578856|title=Open primaries are good for all Israelis and good for Israel|website=The Jerusalem Post|date=27 January 2019|access-date=11 February 2019|author=Albert Levy}}
Naftali Bennett, Ayelet Shaked and Shuli Mualem{{cite news |last1=Israel |first1=David |title=Bennett's, Shaked's 'New Right' Party to Challenge Netanyahu |url=http://www.jewishpress.com/news/israel/religious-secular-in-israel-israel/bennetts-shakeds-new-right-party-to-challenge-netanyahu/2018/12/29/ |access-date=29 December 2018 |work=Jewish Press |date=29 December 2018}} announced on 29 December 2018 that they would leave the Jewish Home party and form a new religious-secular party called the New Right.{{cite web|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/ministers-bennett-and-shaked-to-announce-formation-of-new-party-1.6788899|title=Political Drama: Senior Israeli Ministers Launch New Right-wing Party|website=Haaretz|date=30 December 2018|access-date=30 December 2018}}
Engineer and Nazareth resident Salman Abu Ahmad announced on 2 January that he launched a new Israeli Arab party named New Horizon — An Arab Centrist Party, which would participate in the elections.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-centrist-arab-party-registers-ahead-of-elections|title=New 'centrist' Arab party registers ahead of elections|website=The Times of Israel|date=3 January 2019|access-date=3 January 2019}} However, the party did not run.
Former IDF brigadier general Gal Hirsch announced on 8 January that he launched a new party named Shield of Israel.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/despite-possible-indictments-ex-idf-general-gal-hirsch-launches-political-party/|title=Despite possible indictments, ex-IDF general Gal Hirsch launches political party|website=The Times of Israel|date=8 January 2019|access-date=8 January 2019}}
Motti Ashkenazi and Gad Haran will lead the Social Justice Party.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/yom-kippur-war-vet-who-brought-down-government-launches-election-campaign/|title=Yom Kippur War vet who brought down government launches election campaign|website=The Times of Israel|date=14 January 2019|access-date=14 January 2019|author=Stuart Winer}}
Amos Danieli will run as part of the For Our Sake party.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/commando-who-saved-netanyahus-life-sets-up-political-party/|title=Commando who saved Netanyahu's life 50 years ago sets up rival political party|website=The Times of Israel|date=15 January 2019|access-date=15 January 2019|author=Stuart Winer}}
Semyon Grafman will run as part of the Social Safety party, being known for attempting to register his party using a ballot symbol which is pronounced similar to the English word fuck.{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/registering-new-party-youtube-star-urges-public-to-vote-fk/|title=Registering new party, YouTube star urges public to vote 'F**k'|author=Raoul Wootliff|work=The Times of Israel|date=20 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019}}
Tkuma and The Jewish Home ran on a joint list named the Union of Right-Wing Parties alongside Otzma Yehudit.{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/259087|title=Jewish Home and National Union to run together|website=Israel National News|date=14 February 2019|access-date=14 February 2019|author=Hezki Baruch}}{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/jewish-home-party-votes-overwhelmingly-to-merge-with-extremist-otzma-yehudit/|title=Jewish Home party votes overwhelmingly to merge with extremist Otzma Yehudit|work=The Times of Israel|language=en-US|access-date=20 February 2019|author=Jacob Magid}}
Former Likud MK Oren Hazan headed the Tzomet party.{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/259243|title=MK Oren Hazan leaves Likud, heads Tzomet party|website=Israel National News|language=en|access-date=18 February 2019|date=18 February 2019|author=Hezki Baruch}}
Orly Levy ran in the election with a political party named Gesher. She announced that she and her party would run independently after a failed joint-list agreement with Benny Gantz and his Resilience party.{{cite news|title=Levy-Abekasis: No merger with Gantz after his 'weird, hallucinatory' behavior|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/levy-abekasis-no-merger-with-gantz-after-his-weird-hallucinatory-behavior/|work=The Times of Israel|date=20 February 2019}}{{cite news|title=Gantz loses out on Levy's Gesher, aims for merger with Lapid|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Gantz-loses-out-on-Levys-Gesher-aims-for-merger-with-Lapid-581278|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=20 February 2019|author=Gil Hoffman}}
Benny Gantz's Israel Resilience Party ("Hosen LeYisrael" in Hebrew) ran on a united list named Blue & White, with Moshe Ya'alon's Telem, Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid and former Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi.{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/259384|title=Gantz and Lapid to run together|website=Israel National News|date=21 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019|author=Elad Benari}}{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/united-gantz-lapid-party-to-be-called-blue-and-white/|website=The Times of Israel|date=21 February 2019|access-date=21 February 2019|title=United Gantz-Lapid party to be called 'Blue and White'|author=Jacob Magid}}

=Withdrawals=

Tzipi Livni announced on 18 February 2019 that her Hatnua party would not contest the election.{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Livni-likely-to-quit-politics-this-week-Gantz-party-falls-in-polls-580955|title=Tearful Tzipi Livni quits politics|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=18 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019|author=Gil Hoffman}}
Left-wing activist Eldad Yaniv announced on 30 December 2018 that he would re-form his 2013 party named "Eretz Hadasha", which would have run in the upcoming election,{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/anti-corruption-protest-leader-forms-new-party-ahead-of-elections/|title=Anti-corruption protest leader forms new party ahead of elections|work=The Times of Israel|date=30 December 2018|access-date=30 December 2018}} though Yaniv dropped out of the race following the revealing of the Gantz/Lapid joint list on 20 February 2019.{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/448631|title=Eldad Yaniv's Eretz Hadasha Party won't run in the election|work=Israel National News|date=20 February 2019|access-date=20 February 2019}}
The Green Leaf party announced on 20 February 2019 that it would not participate in the election.{{cite news|title=Pro-marijuana legalization party to sit out elections|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/pro-marijuana-legalization-party-to-sit-out-elections/|work=The Times of Israel|date=20 February 2019}}
Haredi Women's College founder Adina Bar-Shalom had expressed interest in participating in the elections with her newly formed, but unregistered, party Ahi Yisraeli,{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Daughter-of-Rabbi-Ovadia-Yosef-registers-new-political-party-563767|title=Adina Bar-Shalom registers new party, Ahi Yisraeli|website=The Jerusalem Post|date=30 July 2018|author=Jeremy Sharon}}{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Adina-Bar-Shalom-to-head-nascent-Achi-Israeli-party-575202|title=Adina Bar-Shalom to head nascent Achi Israeli party|website=The Jerusalem Post|author=Gil Hoffman|date=23 December 2018|access-date=25 December 2018}} though the party announced its withdrawal on 26 February 2019.{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/449227|title=Israeli Brother party will not run in the elections |website=Israel National News|date=26 February 2019|access-date=26 February 2019}}
Yom-Tov Samia announced the withdrawal of B'Yahad on 4 March 2019.{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/449772|title=B'yahad party won't run in upcoming Knesset elections |website=Israel National News|date=4 March 2019|access-date=4 March 2019}}
Eli Yishai announced the withdrawal of Yachad on 27 March 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/eli-yishais-yachad-party-drops-out-of-election-race-boosting-right/|title=Eli Yishai's Yachad party drops out of election race, boosting right|author=Newman, Marissa|work=The Times of Israel|date=27 March 2019|access-date=28 March 2019}}

Campaign

{{main list|Party lists for the April 2019 Israeli legislative election}}

Some parties, like Likud, Labor, the Jewish Home, Zehut and Meretz, have systems in which the leadership and most candidates on their lists are elected in primary elections.

=Blue and White=

Benny Gantz's Israel Resilience Party and Moshe Ya'alon's Telem unveiled its party slate on 19 February 2019.{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/259303|title=Israel Resilience: Full list of candidates|first=Mordechai|last=Sones|work=Israel National News|date=19 February 2019|access-date=21 February 2019}} Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid party unveiled its party slate on 18 February 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/lapid-unveils-yesh-atid-list-says-unity-with-gantz-still-on-the-table/|title=Lapid unveils Yesh Atid list, says unity with Gantz still 'on the table'|first=Raoul|last=Wootliff|work=The Times of Israel|date=18 February 2019|access-date=19 February 2019}} On 21 February 2019, the three parties agreed to run on a united list named Blue and White.{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/259402|title=Lapid-Gantz-Ya'alon list: 'Blue and White'|work=Israel National News|date=21 February 2019|access-date=21 February 2019}}

=Union of Right-Wing Parties=

The Jewish Home held its leadership primaries on 27 April 2017; Naftali Bennett won with 80.3% of the vote, Yonatan Branski received 12.2% and Yitzhak Zagha received 7.47%.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesofisrael.com/bennett-wins-sweeping-victory-in-jewish-home-leadership-race/|title=Bennett wins sweeping victory in Jewish Home leadership race|author=Wootliff, Raoul|work=The Times of Israel|date=28 April 2017|access-date=28 April 2017}} In the aftermath of the formation of the New Right and Bennett's leaving, the Jewish Home cancelled its primaries.{{cite news|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/257160|title=The Jewish Home needs rehabilitation|author=Hezki Baruch|work=Israel National News|date=3 January 2019|access-date=3 January 2019}} Rafi Peretz was elected leader of the Jewish Home on 4 February.{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Beit-Yehudi-leader-slams-Shaked-Bennet-You-dont-abandon-a-home-579683|title=Beit Yehudi leader slams Shaked, Bennet: You don't abandon a home|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=4 February 2019|access-date=4 February 2019}}

The Tkuma party held its leadership primaries on 14 January 2019; Bezalel Smotrich defeated Uri Ariel.{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Smotrich-hopes-to-head-religious-Zionist-bloc-after-big-win-over-Ariel-577355|author=Lahar Harkov|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=14 January 2019|access-date=19 February 2019|title=Smotrich hopes to head religious-Zionist bloc after big win over Ariel}}

On 14 February 2019, Jewish Home agreed to run on a joint list with the Tkuma party. Jewish Home leader Rafi Peretz headed the joint list, with Tkuma chair Bezalel Smotrich as the number two. On 20 February 2019, they agreed to include Otzma Yehudit in their list, titled the Union of Right-Wing Parties.{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/259430|title='Union of the Right-Wing Parties' submits Knesset list|work=Israel National News|author=Hezki Baruch|date=21 February 2019|access-date=21 February 2019}} The inclusion of Otzma Yehudit prompted strong criticism.{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-ajc-changes-course-denounces-far-right-party-courted-by-netanyahu-1.6959216|title=Prominent Jewish Group Changes Course, Denounces Far-right Party Courted by Netanyahu|last=Tibon|first=Amir|date=22 February 2019|work=Haaretz|access-date=22 February 2019|language=en}}{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Jewish-groups-speak-out-against-union-of-Bayit-Yehudi-with-Otzmah-party-581291|title=Jewish groups speak out against union of Bayit Yehudi with Otzma Party|work=The Jerusalem Post|access-date=22 February 2019|author=Jeremy Sharon}}{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/major-us-jewish-groups-slam-racist-and-reprehensible-extremist-israeli-party/|title=AIPAC slams 'racist and reprehensible' extremist party wooed by Netanyahu|work=The Times of Israel|access-date=22 February 2019|date=22 February 2019}}

=Labor=

{{see also|2019 Israeli Labor Party primary|2019 Israeli Labor Party leadership election}}

The Labor Party held its leadership primaries on 10 July 2017; Avi Gabbay defeated Amir Peretz in the run-off, with Isaac Herzog being defeated during the first round of voting.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/10/world/middleeast/avi-gabbay-israeli-labor-party.html|title=Israeli Labor Party Tries a New Leader: Gabbay, Self-Made Millionaire|author=Kershner, Isabel|work=The New York Times|date=10 July 2017|access-date=7 March 2018}} The party held primaries on 11 February 2019 to choose members for its slate.{{cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/despite-plunge-in-polls-israel-s-labor-not-rushing-to-join-meretz-1.6916776|title=Despite Plunge in Polls, Israel's Labor Not Rushing to Join Meretz|author=Lis, Jonathan|work=Haaretz|date=8 February 2019|access-date=8 February 2019}}

=Likud=

The Likud leadership primary election was originally scheduled for 23 February 2016 following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal,{{cite news|last1=Lis|first1=Jonathan|title=In Win for Netanyahu, Likud Votes for Early Primaries, Safeguarding His Leadership|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-in-win-for-netanyahu-likud-votes-for-early-primaries-1.5383638|work=Haaretz|date=30 December 2015|language=en}} and later cancelled by a party court on the basis that the Likud constitution did not require a vote when there was only one candidate.{{cite news|last1=Lis|first1=Jonathan|title=Likud Calls Off Leadership Vote: Netanyahu to Remain Party Head Through 2023|url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-likud-calls-off-leadership-vote-1.5390200|access-date=10 January 2018|work=Haaretz|date=13 January 2016|language=en}}{{cite news|title=Netanyahu declared Likud leader for seventh term|url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Netanyahu-declared-Likud-leader-for-seventh-term-441570|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=14 January 2016}} Likud held the primary for the rest of its list on 5 February 2019, which resulted in several of Netanyahu's rivals winning senior spots.{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/final-likud-results-give-edelstein-top-spot-behind-pm-while-saar-comes-in-5th/|title=Edelstein takes top spot in Likud primaries, with Netanyahu rival Sa'ar in 4th|author=Wootliff, Raoul|work=The Times of Israel|date=6 February 2019|access-date=6 February 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Likud-sets-Feb-5-date-for-primary-575404|author=Gil Hoffman|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=25 December 2018|access-date=3 January 2019|title=Likud sets Feb 5 date for primary }} Voting irregularities surfaced in the primary results. In some cases, specific candidates received more votes in some locales than the total number of ballots cast in those locales. The Likud party investigated the matter.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/voting-irregularities-surface-in-likud-primaries-results/|title=Voting irregularities surface in Likud primaries results|website=The Times of Israel|language=en-US|access-date=10 February 2019}} In the final results, Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein came in first place, followed by Yisrael Katz, Gilad Erdan, Gideon Sa'ar and Miri Regev.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/final-likud-primary-tally-leaves-top-5-as-is-with-no-gain-for-pms-rival-saar/|title=Final Likud primary tally leaves top 5 as is, with no gain for PM's rival Sa'ar|work=The Times of Israel|language=en-US|access-date=14 February 2019|date=14 February 2019}}

On 26 February 2019, the "Likud TV" studio released the graves video, which raised an ire over use of military cemetery.

On 28 February 2019, the Attorney General, Avichai Mandelblit, announced his intent to indict Prime Minister Netanyahu on three charges which include bribery, fraud and breach of trust. These include trading legislation for favorable press coverage.{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-47409739 |title = Benjamin Netanyahu: What are the corruption allegations?|work = BBC News|date = 28 February 2019}}

=Meretz=

Meretz held its leadership primaries on 22 March 2018; Tamar Zandberg won with 71% of the vote, Avi Buskila received 29%.{{cite news|url=http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Meretz-voters-elect-Tamar-Zandberg-as-new-leader-546892|author=Hoffman, Gil|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=22 March 2018|access-date=23 March 2018|title=Meretz voters elect Tamar Zandberg as new leader}} Meretz held its primary on 14 February 2019.{{cite news|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/259085|author=Elad Benari|work=Israel National News|date=14 February 2019|access-date=14 February 2019|title=Gilon and Rozin win Meretz primaries}}

=Yisrael Beiteinu=

Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu released its party slate on 19 February 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liberman-unveils-yisrael-beytenu-candidates-leaves-out-veteran-lawmakers/|title=Liberman unveils Yisrael Beytenu candidates, leaves out veteran lawmakers|first=Alexander|last=Fulbright|work=The Times of Israel|date=20 February 2019}}

=Zehut=

The Zehut party held Israel's first open primaries on 29 January 2019, in which all Israeli voters (including those living abroad) were able to vote via a secure online website. About 12,000 people voted in these primaries, which determined the order of the candidates who won in the party's internal primaries in September 2017.{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/with-first-open-primaries-moshe-feiglins-zehut-looks-for-a-public-identity/|author=Raoul Wootliff|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=29 January 2019|access-date=8 February 2019|title=With first open primaries, Moshe Feiglin's 'Zehut' looks for a public identity}}{{cite news|url=https://www.20il.co.il/אלו-תוצאות-הפריימריז-של-מפלגת-זהות//|author=Eliran Tal|work=Channel 20 News Israel|date=30 January 2019|access-date=8 February 2019|title=אלו תוצאות הפריימריז של מפלגת זהות}}

Opinion polls

{{main|Opinion polling for the April 2019 Israeli legislative election}}

These graphs show the polling trends from the time Knesset candidate lists were finalized on 21 February, until Friday before election day (5 April).

If more than one poll was conducted on the same day, the graphs show the average of the polls for that date.

=Blocs=

{{Graph:Chart |width=480 |height=300 |xAxisTitle=Date |yAxisTitle=Seats |legend= |type=line

|interpolate=monotone

|xType=date

|xAxisMax=1554768000000

|yAxisMin=50

|x= 2019/02/21, 2019/02/22, 2019/02/24, 2019/02/27, 2019/02/28, 2019/03/01, 2019/03/03, 2019/03/05, 2019/03/07, 2019/03/08, 2019/03/11, 2019/03/13, 2019/03/14, 2019/03/17, 2019/03/18, 2019/03/19, 2019/03/20, 2019/03/22, 2019/03/24, 2019/03/26, 2019/03/27, 2019/03/28, 2019/03/29, 2019/03/31, 2019/04/02, 2019/04/03, 2019/04/04, 2019/04/05

|y1Title=Right-of-centre parties |y1= 61.5, 58, 61, 61, 62.5, 59, 59, 60.25, 62, 61, 64, 63, 65, 63, 66, 68, 63, 64.3, 61, 64.67, 68, 65.2, 69, 65, 62, 64.5, 64.17, 66

|y2Title=Centre and left-of-centre parties |y2= 58.5, 62, 59, 59, 57.5, 61, 61, 59.75, 58, 59, 56, 57, 55, 57, 54, 52, 57, 55.7, 59, 55.33, 52, 54.8, 51, 55, 58, 55.5, 55.83, 54

|colors=#1f5aa5,#00D5FF

}}

;Legend

Right-of-centre parties: all current government parties—Likud, Kulanu,{{refn |group=fn |name=Kulanu |Kulanu is a centre to centre-right party that has expressed openness to serve in either a Likud- or Blue & White-led government.{{Cite news |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/kulanu-minister-says-party-could-join-gantz-led-coalition/ |title=Kulanu minister says party does not rule out joining Gantz-led coalition |website=Times of Israel |date=2 March 2019 |access-date=29 March 2019}}}} Shas, United Torah Judaism (UTJ), Union of Right-Wing Parties (URWP) and New Right—as well as Yisrael Beiteinu and Zehut.{{refn |group=fn |name=Zehut |Zehut is a right-wing libertarian party that has expressed openness to serve in either a Likud- or Blue & White-led government.{{Cite news |url=https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/The-Feiglin-phenomenon-583567 |title=The Feiglin phenomenon |website=Jerusalem Post |author=Lahav Harkov |date=17 March 2019 |access-date=29 March 2019}}}}
Centre and left-of-centre parties: Labor, Blue & White,{{refn |group=fn |name=B&W |Blue & White has expressed its intention not to form a coalition with Ra'am-Balad or Hadash-Ta'al.{{Cite news |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/elections/gantz-rules-out-political-discourse-with-arab-parties-over-anti-israel-rhetoric-1.7041422 |title=Gantz Rules Out 'Political Discourse' With Arab Parties Over 'anti-Israel' Rhetoric |date=19 March 2019 |work=Haaretz |access-date=29 March 2019}}}} Ra'am-Balad, Hadash-Ta'al, Meretz and Gesher.{{refn |group=fn |name=Gesher |Gesher is a centre-left party that has expressed openness to serve in either a Likud- or Blue & White-led government.{{Cite news |url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Gesher-draws-line-on-Netanyahu-led-coalition-582339 |title=Gesher draws line on Netanyahu-led coalition |website=Jerusalem Post |author=Gil Hoffman |date=3 March 2019 |access-date=29 March 2019}}}}

Note: Political blocs do not necessarily determine the exact make-up of post-election coalitions.

=Parties=

{{Graph:Chart |width=650 |height=600 |xAxisTitle=Date |yAxisTitle=Seats |legend= |type=line

|interpolate=monotone

|xType=date

|xAxisMax = 1554768000000

|yAxisMin=0

|yGrid=5

|y1Title=Blue & White |y1= 35.5, 34, 35.5, 36, 36.5, 36.5, 38, 34.5, 32.33, 35, 31, 32, 32, 30, 29, 29, 31.5, 30, 31.5, 30, 30, 30.4, 31, 31, 28, 28.5, 29.67, 29.33

|y2Title=Likud |y2= 29.83, 27, 30, 29, 29, 29.5, 30, 30, 27.67, 29, 28, 32, 27, 31, 31, 32, 28, 28, 28, 29.33, 31, 28.8, 29, 29.5, 29, 29.5, 28, 27.67

|y3Title=Labor |y3= 7.17, 6, 8.5, 8, 6.5, 6, 8, 7.75, 9.33, 8, 7, 10, 8.5, 9, 8, 8, 9.5, 8.67, 10, 8.33, 9, 8.8, 8, 8.5, 14, 10, 9.67, 9.67

|y4Title=Hadash–Ta'al |y4= 8.33, 6, 7, 7, 9, 8, 9, 8.5, 8, 9, 7, 9, 6.5, 8, 7, 9, 7.5, 7.33, 7, 7.67, 8, 7, 7, 8, 6, 7.5, 6.83, 6.67

|y5Title=URWP |y5= 5.83, 7, 6.5, 5, 8, 6, 7, 6, 7.33, 7, 7, 7, 7, 6, 9, 7, 5.5, 6.33, 6.5, 6.33, 7, 6.2, 7, 5, 7, 7, 6, 6.67

|y6Title=UTJ |y6= 6.67, 6, 7, 7, 6.5, 7, 7, 6.75, 7.33, 8, 6, 7, 7, 6, 6, 6, 7, 6.67, 6.5, 6.67, 7, 6.4, 7, 6, 6, 6, 6.67, 6.67

|y7Title=Shas |y7= 5.33, 4, 6, 4, 5.5, 6, 4, 5, 5, 6, 5, 6, 5.5, 6, 6, 4, 5, 4.67, 5.5, 6, 4, 5.4, 6, 5.5, 5, 5, 5.16, 5.67

|y8Title=New Right |y8= 6.67, 6, 7.5, 8, 7, 6, 6, 5.5, 6.67, 6, 6, 7, 5, 6, 8, 6, 6, 6.33, 5, 6.33, 6, 6.2, 6, 5.5, 5, 5.5, 6, 6

|y9Title=Meretz |y9= 4, 5, 5.5, 4, 5.5, 6, 6, 5, 5.67, 7, 6, 6, 6, 6, 5, 6, 4.5, 5.67, 4.5, 5, 5, 5.4, 5, 5.5, 5, 5.5, 5.67, 5.67

|y10Title=Ra'am–Balad |y10= 4.16, 8, 3.7, 4, 1.5, 4.5, 2.64, 3.48, 3.47, , 5, 3.12, 3.2, 4, 5, 3, 4, 4, 4, 3.64, 2.28, 3.68, , 3.26, 5, 4, 3.73, 2.67

|y11Title=Kulanu |y11= 3.51, 4, 3.2, 4, 4.5, 4.5, 5, 5, 4, 5, 4, 3.24, 4.5, 2.52, 2.76, 4, 4.5, 4.33, 4.06, 4.57, 4, 4.4, 5, 4.5, 4, 4.24, 4.97, 5

|y12Title=Zehut |y12= 2.62, , 3.06, , 3.54, 2.76, 3.48, 3.28, 3.91, , 4, 4, 4.5, 4, 6, 4, 4.5, 4.67, 5, 5.67, 5, 5.2, 5, 5, 6, 5, 5.67, 5.67

|y13Title=Yisrael Beiteinu |y13= 4.5, 4, 3.8, 4, 3.2, 2.58, 2.52, 3.25, 2.53, , 4, 3.48, 4.5, 4, 1.68, 5, 3.32, 4.33, 3.44, 3.13, 4, 3.68, 4, 4, 2.64, 4, 3.45, 2.67

|y14Title=Gesher |y14= 3.02, , 3, 1.2, 3, 3.18, 3.36, 3.07, 2.32, , 2.76, 2.04, 2.58, 1.32, 2.76, 3.48, 2.34, 3.68, 2.96, 3.41, 3.12, 2.52, , 2.28, 3.48, 2.94, 3.01, 2.16

|y15Title=Threshold (3.25%) |y15= 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9, 3.9

|colors=#04BEEF,#1f5aa5,#EE1C25,#C3382F,#8CC74B,#003366,#000000,#0085FF,#40AE49,#15793D,#00AFEF,#6AC7DF,#9AC0E2,#ED0963,#808080

}}

Allegations of misconduct

The Hadash–Ta'al alliance filed a complaint requesting the removal of 1,200 concealed cameras in polling places in Arab communities.{{cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/likud-admits-hiding-cameras-at-polling-stations-to-monitor-problem-arabs/|title=Likud admits deploying cameras at polling stations to monitor 'problem Arabs'|agency=Times of Israel|date=9 April 2019}}{{cite news|title=Binyamin Netanyahu appears to have won a fifth term|url=https://www.economist.com/middle-east-and-africa/2019/04/10/binyamin-netanyahu-appears-to-have-won-a-fifth-term|newspaper=The Economist|date=10 April 2019}} A judge overseeing the election ordered the concealed equipment removed. The company that set up the cameras, Kaizler Inbar, bragged about its role in social media posts.{{cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/israeli-election-pr-firm-boasts-about-lowering-voter-turnout-with-hidden-cameras-at-arab-polling-sites|title=Israeli PR Firm Boasts About Lowering Voter Turnout With Hidden Cameras at Arab Polling Sites|date=10 April 2019}}

Fake IDs were used in Herzliya and some voting slips for Blue & White, Meretz, Likud, Zehut and Yisrael Beiteinu disappeared in Petah Tikva.

Shas was criticized for giving out candles at polling stations.{{cite web|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-Elections/Election-misdemeanors-under-investigation-586241|title=Parties Furious over Reported Election Misdemeanours|work=The Jerusalem Post|date=9 April 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/politics/1554780634-live-blog-israelis-head-to-the-polls-in-high-stake-election-for-prime-minister|work=I 24 News|date=9 April 2019|title=AS IT HAPPENED: Israelis cast ballots for next PM in high-stakes national election}}

Results

{{Election results

|image=File:April Election Result.svg

|party1=Likud|votes1=1140370|seats1=35|sc1=+5

|party2=Blue and White|votes2=1125881|seats2=35|sc2=+24

|party3=Shas|votes3=258275|seats3=8|sc3=+1

|party4=United Torah Judaism|votes4=249049|seats4=8|sc4=+2

|party5=Hadash–Ta'al|votes5=193442|seats5=6|sc5=0

|party6=Labor Party|votes6=190870|seats6=6|sc6=–13

|party7=Yisrael Beiteinu|votes7=173004|seats7=5|sc7=–1

|party8=Union of Right-Wing Parties|votes8=159468|seats8=5|sc8=–3

|party9=Meretz|votes9=156473|seats9=4|sc9=–1

|party10=Kulanu|votes10=152756|seats10=4|sc10=–6

|party11=United Arab List–Balad|votes11=143666|seats11=4|sc11=–3

|party12=New Right|votes12=138598|seats12=0|sc12=New

|party13=Zehut|votes13=118031|seats13=0|sc13=New

|party14=Gesher|votes14=74701|seats14=0|sc14=New

|party16=The Arab List (Mada–ANP)|votes16=4135|seats16=0|sc16=0

|party20=Tzomet|votes20=2417|seats20=0|sc20=New

|party27=Eretz Yisrael Shelanu|votes27=701|seats27=0|sc27=New

|party31=Green Economy – One Nation|votes31=556|seats31=0|sc31=0

|party40=Brit Olam|votes40=216|seats40=0|sc40=0

|invalid=30983|color40=darkblue

|total_sc=0

|electorate=6339729

|source=[https://web.archive.org/web/20190411205835/https://votes21.bechirot.gov.il/ CEC]

}}

=Members of the Knesset who lost their seats=

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 95%;"

!colspan=2|Party

!Name

!Year elected

! rowspan=1 style="background-color: {{party color|Blue and White}}" |

| rowspan=1|Blue and White

|Aliza Lavie

|2013

! rowspan=1 style="background-color: {{party color|Gesher (2019 political party)}}" |

| rowspan=1|Gesher

|Orly Levy

|2009

! rowspan=4 style="background-color: {{party color|Kulanu}}" |

| rowspan=4|Kulanu

|2016

|2019

! rowspan=11 style="background-color: {{party color|Israeli Labor Party}}" |

| rowspan=11|Labor

|1996{{cite web |title=Knesset Member, Eitan Cabel |url=https://www.knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mk_eng.asp?mk_individual_id_t=64 |website=Knesset |access-date=9 May 2019}}

|2017

|2017

|2018

! rowspan=7 style="background-color: {{party color|Likud}}" |

| rowspan=7|Likud

|2016

! rowspan=1 style="background-color: {{party color|Meretz}}" |

| rowspan=1|Meretz

|Mossi Raz

|2017

! rowspan=3 style="background-color: #0085FF" |

| rowspan=3|New Right

! style="background-color: {{party color|Tzomet}}" |

| Tzomet

|Oren Hazan

|2015

! rowspan=2 style="background-color: #15793D" |

| rowspan=2|United Arab List

|Talab Abu Arar

|2013

|Said al-Harumi

|2017

! rowspan=1 style="background-color: {{party color|Yisrael Beiteinu}}" |

| rowspan=1|Yisrael Beiteinu

|Hamad Amar

|2009

Aftermath

Leader of Blue and White faction Benny Gantz conceded, paving the way for incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to start talks with other parties to form a governing coalition.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/10/middleeast/israel-election-results-benjamin-netanyahu-benny-gantz-intl/index.html|title=Netanyahu set for fifth term as Israel's leader as rival concedes defeat|last=Liebermann|first=Oren|date=10 April 2019|work=CNN|access-date=10 April 2019|language=en}} On 15 and 16 April, leaders of all the parties who won seats in the Knesset met with President Reuven Rivlin to recommend a designated person to form a government. Netanyahu received recommendations from leaders representing 65 seats in the Knesset, whereas Gantz received recommendations from leaders representing only 45 seats in the Knesset. Leaders of the two Arab parties, representing 10 seats in the Knesset, declined to make any recommendation. Based on the recommendations he received, Rivlin designated Netanyahu to form the next governing coalition.{{Cite news|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/president-officially-taps-netanyahu-to-form-next-government/|title=President officially taps Netanyahu to form next government|date=17 April 2019|work=The Times of Israel|access-date=17 April 2019|language=en}} After a month of negotiations, Netanyahu's failure to form a government led to a 74 to 45 vote in the Knesset in favour of dispersing just after midnight on 29 May 2019. The new election was scheduled for 17 September 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Elections-set-for-Sept-17-after-coalition-talks-fail-591044|title=Israel goes back to elections as Netanyahu fails to form coalition|date=29 May 2019|work=The Jerusalem Post}}

Notes

References

External links

[https://bechirot21.bechirot.gov.il/election/English/pages/default.aspx Elections for the 21st Knesset] at the Israeli Central Elections Committee
[https://elections.madlan.co.il/ Election results by city and neighbourhood]

Category:Naftali Bennett

Category:Avigdor Lieberman