Israel Elections 2021

The 2021 legislative elections in Israel were held on March 23, 2021, in order to elect the members of the 24th Knesset. The elections were the fourth in two years and were triggered by the dissolution of the Likud-Blue and White coalition which lasted for less than a year.

A total of 39 parties registered to run in the elections, although several dropped out shortly ahead of election day itself.

The election results saw the Likud party receive 30 seats, seven less than they had held in the 23rd Knesset, followed by Yesh Atid with 17, and then Shas with nine. Meretz, Haavodah, and Ra'am, received six, seven, and four seats respectively, despite uncertainty about whether or not any of them would pass the minimum threshold.

As leader of the largest majority, Benjamin Netanyahu was charged with forming a government by then-president Reuven Rivlin. Upon his failure to do so by the deadline, the mandate was passed onto Yair Lapid as leader of the second-largest party.

Together with Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid set out to form a wide coalition encompassing parties from the left such as Meretz and Haavodah, and the right, Yamina and New Hope. Mansour Abbas' Ra'am signed a coalition agreement with Lapid on June 2, just several hours before the deadline, making Ra'am the first Arab party to sit in government.

On June 13, 2021, the thirty-sixth government of Israel was sworn in with Naftali Bennett as Prime Minister and Yair Lapid set to take over as head of government in 2023.

Religious identity remains Israel's strongest political divide, new IDI study finds

While the relationship between religion and political affiliation remained largely stable compared to the previous election, the study identified several notable shifts between 2021 and 2022.

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A voting box in the last Israeli election in 2015

Head of the left wing Meretz party Zehava Gal-On leaving after a meeting with Labor leader and Transportation Minister Merav Michaeli and Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid at Lapid's home in Tel Aviv on September 10, 2022.

New Meretz campaign video depicts violence by Netanyahu supporters

The video includes clips of violence inserted every few seconds, in between the words "this violence did not start now. It has been like this for two years, just like then."

SEPTEMBER 22, 2022|ByELIAV BREUER

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett attends a cabinet meeting, March 20, 2022.

Israel elections: Bennett is crashing in the polls

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s Yamina Party would win four seats if an election was held today, losing three seats in a span of three days.

JUNE 24, 2022|ByELIAV BREUER

Dozens of Evangelical Christians are seen attending the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast, on June 10, 2021.

Christians pledge unconditional support for Israel at prayer breakfast

Speakers call to move more embassies to Jerusalem * Rabbi: ‘We are in a crisis, at a crossroads’

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Israel elections round five: The least bad alternative

There’s no reason Bennett and Sa’ar can’t join forces and create a collaborative right-wing party that would be a worthy alternative to Netanyahu’s Likud.

MAY 27, 2021ByEHUD OLMERT

YAIR LAPID and Naftali Bennett walk together in the Knesset in 2013

Lapid, Gantz rising in first election polls after Gaza conflict

Both the N12 and Channel 13 polls found that Netanyahu would have an even harder time forming a government if elections were held today.

MAY 23, 2021ByIDAN ZONSHINE

Benny Gantz and Yair Lapid

47% of Israelis support a Lapid-Bennett led government - poll

Were Israel to hold direct elections for prime minister today, some 37% of Israelis would vote for Netanyahu and 23% for Lapid.

MAY 8, 2021ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

YAIR LAPID (left) and Naftali Bennett share a smile at the Knesset in 2013.

New Bennett shaming campaign aims to build Netanyahu coalition

The campaign is funded by Australian mining magnate Rabbi Joseph Gutnick, whose "Netanyahu is good for the Jews" campaign helped him win the 1996 election.

APRIL 27, 2021ByGIL HOFFMAN

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) and Australian mining magnate Rabbi Joseph Gutnick (right)

Netanyahu set to offer Bennett, Sa'ar PM rotation today

Netanyahu has offered a rotation as prime minister to Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin (Likud), Shas leader Arye Deri and Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz, but none of the offers were taken seriously.

APRIL 27, 2021ByGIL HOFFMAN

Gideon Sa'ar, Benjamin Netanyahu and Naftali Bennett: Potential candidates for prime minister in 2021.

Naftali Bennett to Liberman: No deal on ultra-Orthodox

"Bennett will not accept a boycott of haredim or any other group in Israel," a Yamina spokesperson said.

APRIL 23, 2021ByGIL HOFFMAN

Naftali Bennett, head of Yamina party and party members seen with Yamina supporters at the party headquarters in Petah Tikva, on elections night, on March 23, 2021.

PM blasts Bennett after call for unity government

Netanyahu says he'd be opposition leader, won't seek presidency

APRIL 21, 2021ByGIL HOFFMAN

Bennett and Netanyahu squared off in an exchange of harsh words.

Why did Ayelet Shaked meet Mossad chief Cohen week before election?

The purpose of the meeting though so close to elections, did raise eyebrows.

APRIL 21, 2021ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Yamina MK Ayelet Shaked is seen guesturing amid the preliminary vote to dissolve the Knesset on December 2, 2020.

As time runs out, Netanyahu bloc pushing bill for PM direct election

Netanyahu holds a significant advantage over other prime minister candidates in polls.

APRIL 19, 2021ByGIL HOFFMAN, TOBIAS SIEGAL

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the 2021 International Bible Contest for Youth on Thursday, Israel's Independence Day, April 15, 2021.

7+3 top Israel stories from Israel's 73rd year

Check out this recap of the 10 articles readers found most interesting, heart-warming, and astounding this year.

APRIL 15, 2021ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Israeli children's hold Israeli flags ahed of Israel 73rd Independence day, at a kindergarten in Moshav Yashresh, April 13, 2021.