The political framework of Israel

Political Outline

Current Political Leaders

President: Isaac HERZOG (since 7 July 2021)
Prime minister-designate: Benjamin NETANYAHU (since 29 December 2022)

Next Election Dates

Presidential: 2028
Parliament: 2025

Current Political Context

The government led by Naftali Bennett, supported by a coalition that comprised eight parties from different political factions including for the first time the participation of an Arab-Israeli party, suffered several legislative defeats in the Knesset and in June 2022 Bennett passed the baton to Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid who acted as caretaker prime minister until the elections scheduled for 1 November.
The parliamentary election saw the right-wing bloc led by Binyamin Netanyahu, with four parties (Likud, Religious Zionism, Shas, and United Torah Judaism) securing a comfortable 64-seat majority (out of 120 total seats). A couple of days before the end of the year, Netanyahu’s sixth government was sworn in. A change in the government policies will more likely happen on the domestic side rather than on the foreign one, although in light of the good relations between Netanyahu and Russian president Vladimir Putin Israel may take a more neutral stance over the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Main Political Parties

The Israeli political system is based on proportional representation. No party is in a position to assume power independently, so political groups often co-operate and form coalition governments. The political parties represented in the Parliament are:

- Likud: National Liberal Party, right-wing, nationalist
- Yesh Atid (There is Future): centre, liberal
- Zionist Union: centre-left
- National Unity: a political alliance made up of the Blue and White party and the New Hope party, centrist
- Shas: zionist, populist, conservatism
- United Torah Judaism: right-wing, conservatism, religious
- Yisrael Beiteinu: conservatism, nationalism
- United Arab List (Ra'am): Arab political party, it is the political wing of the Southern Branch of the Islamic movement
- Hadash-Ta'al: a joint list of the Ta'al party and Hadash political coalition, left-wing, endorses the two-state solution
- Israeli Labor Party (HaAvoda): left-wing.

Executive Power

The President is Head of the State and is elected by the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, for a seven-year term. His/Her role is essentially ceremonial. The President chooses the leader of the party or majority coalition in the Knesset to exercise the functions of the Prime Minister for a four-year term. The Prime Minister is head of the Government and holds the executive power, including the execution of the law and the management of the country's current affairs. The Cabinet is chosen by the Prime Minister before being approved by the Knesset.

Legislative Power

Legislative power is Israel is unicameral. The Knesset (parliament) consists of 120 members, elected by universal suffrage for a four-year term. The Knesset can decide to be dissolved by a simple majority through a vote of no confidence. The Prime Minister cannot dissolve or veto the Knesset. Israeli citizens have significant political rights.

Indicator of Freedom of the Press

World Rank:

86/180

Indicator of Political Freedom

Ranking:

Free

Political Freedom:

2/7

Political freedom in the world (interactive map)
Source: Freedom in the World Report, Freedom House