On Tuesday, voters went to the polls, marking the first parliamentary election since the Hamas attack that shook the nation on October 7, 2023. The 120‑seat Knesset will decide who leads Israel next.
Voting ran from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time; after the polls closed, exit‑poll data were broadcast, giving early clues to the seat allocation.
Seats are allocated by proportional representation; parties must secure at least 3.25% of the national vote to gain representation, and about twelve parties are expected to cross the threshold.
Once the final tally is released by October 30, President Isaac Herzog will consult party leaders and nominate a prime minister, who must assemble a coalition within 42 days—a process that has historically taken weeks. In Jaffa, factory worker Amir says he hopes the new government will restore stability.
If no coalition emerges, the president will call a fresh election, while the incumbent cabinet will serve as caretaker.