1. A brief guide on what to expect on April 9th
2019 Israel Elections
A brief guide on what to expect on April 9th  

2. THE ISRAELI ELECTORAL SYSTEM
Israel has a parliamentary system with one legislative chamber, the 120-seat ‘Knesset’. Members of Knesset (MKs) are elected in national, direct elections based on the party-list proportional representation system. Each party that passes the electoral threshold of 3.25% receives the number of parliamentary seats relative to its percentage of the valid votes. Party lists are finalized several weeks ahead of the election, with parties internally determining their candidates’ ranking. A Knesset is elected for a four-year term, however the average lifetime of a Knesset is 3.4 years.
Following the elections, the President summons all the elected parties to submit their recommended candidate for Prime Minister. The President then assigns the task of forming a government to the party leader who has the greatest chance of establishing a coalition government with a majority of MKs (61). Historically, the leader of the party receiving the most votes has been tasked with forming the new government.
During the past two decades, no single party has received more than 25% of the valid votes, resulting in the formation of coalition governments – which have consistently featured four or more parties. In the upcoming elections, ten to 13 medium-sized and small political parties are expected to win seats. As such, the party leader designated with forming a government is expected to face a complex task in lobbying other parties to join a coalition. This will likely require the courting of parties with rather different ideologies and agendas, and having to make significant concessions.

3. KEY CANDIDATES, THEIR PARTIES & EMPHASIS
Tamar
Zandberg
Meretz
Centrist Parties
Zionist Left Parties
Avi Gabbay
Labour
Benny Gantz Yair Lapid
Orly Levi
Gesher
Blue & White
Right Wing Parties
Moshe Kahlon
Kulanu
Benjamin Netanyahu
Likud
Avigdor Liberman
Yisrael Beiteinu
Naftali Bennett Ayelet Shaked
New Right
Rafi Peretz
Bezalel Smotrich
Union of Right-Wing Parties
Non-Zionist Arab Parties
Ultra-Orthodox Parties
Yaacov Litzman
United Torah Judaism
Aryeh Deri
Shas
Ayman Odeh Ahmad Tibi
Mtanes Shihadeh
Mansour Abbas
Hadash + Ta’al
Balad + Ra’am
The Left and Right of the political spectrum is mainly differentiated by their approach to the Arab-Israeli Conflict and on views of the level of separation of “Church and State”.
The larger and medium-sized parties are situated close to the center on main electoral issues.
Other parties take more extreme positions.
Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz/Yair Lapid are considered to be frontrunners for the position of Prime Minister.

4. ELECTION TIMELINE Voting Day Formal Election Results Published
Voting closes at 10PM, Exit Polls are published
Formal Election Results Published
Inauguration of Elected Knesset Members
Designated Prime Minister has 28 days to form a Governing Coalition
The designated Prime Minister may ask for an extra 14 days to complete the formation of a coalition
Early May
(approx.)
10 April
After April 17
9 April
17 April
23 April
Vote Counting
Initial results will become available the following day
Formal Consultations
The President will consult with all political parties and subsequently task the Knesset Member with the best chance of forming a governing coalition
New Government

5. KEY ISSUES – PEACE AND SECURITY
Peace Process
The Trump Administration is expected to release its Israel-Palestinian peace plan after the elections. The Israeli Right includes voices in favor of maintaining the status quo and/or annexation of Jewish settlements in the West Bank, whereas the Center and Left mostly advocate for bilateral negotiations with the Palestinian Authority (PA) and/or unilateral withdrawals from most of the West Bank with the exception of the Settlement Blocs.
Security
There is a broad consensus across the political spectrum from Right to Left that Iran’s perceived malign influence in the region – especially in Syria (which borders Israel) – is Israel’s greatest security threat. With Russian support for the Syrian Regime, Israel has to maintain a good relationship with President Putin and the Kremlin.
There is disagreement between the different parties on policy over Hamas in the Gaza Strip, with some advocating for indirect negotiations aimed at reaching a long-term truce and others calling for a decisive military campaign against the organization.
Regional Rapprochement & Looking Eastwards
The majority of the political spectrum embraces Israel’s growing relations with the Gulf Arab states, though the Center and Left caution that progress with the Palestinians is needed for these ties to reach their full potential. Likewise, there is broad support for expanding diplomatic and trade relations in Asia, though some have warned against the potentially adverse ramifications of growing ties with China on Israel’s traditionally close and strategic relationship with the U.S.

6. KEY ISSUES – ECONOMY AND SOCIETY
Economic Affairs
Israel’s high cost of living has emerged as a key domestic issue since large-scale protests in The Left favors greater social benefits and expanded government programs to support the lower socio-economic groups, while the Right often urges expanded market competition and removing protectionist barriers for traditional domestic industries. 
Socio-Economic Issues There is a growing divide between secular and religious Jews on the place of religion in the public domain. This divide is manifested in disputes such as the ultra-Orthodox enlistment exemptions, lack of public transportation on the Sabbath, public infrastructure work on he Sabbath and more.
Over the past year there have been mass demonstrations in support of LGBTQ, ethnic minorities, and women’s rights, with many concerned over a perceived decline in support for tolerance and pluralism.
Israel has one of the highest rates of poverty and wealth inequality among OECD countries, with nearly 50% of the Arab and Ultra-Orthodox populations living below the poverty line.
Corruption & Rule of Law
Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit announced in late February his intent to prosecute current prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust. Opponents of the prime minister argue that the indictments should warrant his resignation, while supporters maintain that the indictments are not a guilty sentence and that the prime minister’s statesmanship and competency in security and foreign policy override corruption investigations. Some supporters are also advocating legislation to prevent a sitting premier from being investigated.

7. SOCIAL MEDIA TRENDS Portfolio 2000 Portfolio 1000
In an analysis of over 42,000 Social Media conversations focused on the elections over the past 30 days, APCO has found that discussions were primarily focused on the key issues of Corruption & Rule of Law, followed by Security and Foreign Policy. The issues discussed least were Economic Affairs and the Peace Process.
Portfolio 2000
Portfolio 1000

8. For more information, contact : Roi Feder, managing director, Tel Aviv