Israel’s electoral system is based on proportional representation, which significantly influences how the country’s government is formed. Unlike systems where voters select individual candidates for specific districts, Israeli voters cast their ballots for a party list. Each political party establishes a ranked list of candidates prior to the election, and the number of seats a party secures in the 120-seat Knesset is determined by the total percentage of the national vote it receives.

Because no single party typically wins an outright majority of 61 seats, the election results usually trigger a period of coalition negotiations. The leader of the party that is most capable of forming a governing coalition with other factions is typically tasked with becoming the Prime Minister. This process makes the election a high-stakes event for incumbent leaders, such as Benjamin Netanyahu, whose political future depends on the ability of his party and its allies to secure enough parliamentary support to maintain a majority. The system is designed to ensure that a wide range of political views are represented in the legislature, but it also means that smaller parties can hold significant leverage during the coalition-building phase, often acting as kingmakers in the formation of a new government.