2020 Israeli legislative election

2020 Israeli legislative election
Election name	2020 Israeli legislative election
Country	Israel
Type	parliamentary
Previous election	2019 Israeli legislative election
Previous year	2019
Next election	2021 Israeli legislative election
Next year	2021
Seats for election	120 seats in the Knesset
Majority seats	61
Election date	2 March 2020

2020 Israeli legislative election

The 2020 Israeli legislative election was held on 2 March 2020 to elect the 23rd Knesset. The ballot followed two inconclusive elections in 2019, producing a fragmented field including Likud, Blue and White, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Labor Party, Yamina, Yisrael Beiteinu, Hadash–Ta'al, Meretz, Joint List, and new alignments such as Yamina and New Right. The result left no clear majority, prompting complex negotiations involving Benjamin Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Avigdor Lieberman, Naftali Bennett, and international attention from Donald Trump and the White House over the proposed Israeli annexation plan.

Background

After the April 2019 and September 2019 elections produced deadlocks, the President of Israel Reuven Rivlin tasked party leaders with forming coalitions, with attempts involving Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of Likud, and Benny Gantz, leader of Blue and White. The collapsed negotiations reflected tensions among Haredi Judaism parties such as Shas and United Torah Judaism, secularist stances of Yisrael Beiteinu under Avigdor Lieberman, and Arab representation through the Joint List. Judicial controversies including the prosecution of Benjamin Netanyahu on charges brought by the State Attorney and the role of the Attorney General influenced bargaining. Regional factors such as the Abraham Accords discussions and the Trump peace plan framed the political environment.

Electoral system

Israel employs nationwide proportional representation using the D'Hondt method as implemented for the Knesset, with a single national constituency and a threshold for entry set by the Knesset at 3.25%. Voters selected party lists drawn from registered political entities such as Likud, Blue and White, Yisrael Beiteinu, and Joint List. The Central Elections Committee of the Ministry of the Interior administered the vote, with ballot procedures influenced by precedents from the Knesset elections, 2019 cycles. Campaign financing and advertising were regulated under laws enforced by the Israel Police and overseen by the Central Elections Committee.

Campaigns and key issues

Campaigns featured competing platforms: Likud emphasized security ties with the United States and support for annexation of parts of the West Bank, referencing the Trump peace plan, while Blue and White focused on anti-corruption and institutional integrity regarding the ongoing indictment of Benjamin Netanyahu by the State Attorney Office. Yisrael Beiteinu campaigned on secularist reforms and conscription changes affecting Haredi Judaism, pitting Avigdor Lieberman against coalitions including Shas and United Torah Judaism. Arab-Israeli parties including the Joint List and alliances like Hadash–Ta'al emphasized civil rights, equality, and opposition to annexation. Centrist and right-wing tickets such as Yamina and New Hope raised questions about settlements, the Golan Heights, and relations with Palestinian leadership. International reactions involved leaders like Donald Trump, with diplomatic implications for relations between Israel and countries such as Egypt and Jordan.

Opinion polls

Polls conducted by Israeli pollsters including Dalia Research, Midgam Research, Maagar Mochot and Maf'at showed fluctuating support: Likud and Blue and White traded leads, while smaller parties such as Yisrael Beiteinu, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Yamina and the Joint List hovered around the threshold. Strategic polling reflected the influence of endorsements from figures like Naftali Bennett and fragmentation influenced by the legacy of the 2019–2020 Israeli political crisis. Polls also tracked voter reactions to Netanyahu's legal troubles involving the Attorney General and public demonstrations linked to activists from groups such as Black Flags movement.

Results

No party achieved an outright majority. Preliminary results returned seats distributed among major lists: Likud and Blue and White were the largest blocs, with parties like Shas, United Torah Judaism, Yisrael Beiteinu, Joint List, Labor Party, Meretz, Yamina, and Hadash–Ta'al receiving representation. The fragmentation mirrored outcomes from the 2019 Israeli legislative election cycles. The results forced renewed coalition talks involving key negotiators including Benjamin Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Avigdor Lieberman, and Gideon Sa'ar, with external pressure from international actors and regional stakeholders such as United States Department of State officials.

Government formation and aftermath

Following the election, Benny Gantz and Benjamin Netanyahu engaged in protracted negotiations. Attempts to form a government involved considerations of a unity government with power-sharing agreements, influenced by the role of Avigdor Lieberman as kingmaker and resistance from Haredi Judaism parties. Eventually, a rotation deal was proposed and signed by leaders of Blue and White and Likud, involving an alternate prime minister arrangement referencing models from previous Israeli accords. The instability led to further political maneuvers, factional realignments including the emergence of New Hope under Gideon Sa'ar, and ultimately set the stage for the subsequent 2021 Israeli legislative election. The outcome affected legal processes involving the Attorney General and the prosecution of Benjamin Netanyahu, while continuing debates over annexation and Israel's relations with neighbors like Jordan and Egypt.

Category:Elections in Israel Category:2020 elections