2009 Israeli Election
10 February 2009 · The Netanyahu era and the deadlock cycle · 120 seats, 61 for a majority
Legislative elections were held in Israel on 10 February 2009 to elect the 120 members of the eighteenth Knesset. These elections became necessary due to the resignation of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as leader of the Kadima party, and the failure of his successor, Tzipi Livni, to form a coalition government.
Held in wartime. This election took place while the country was engaged in Gaza–Israel conflict (2006–present). Conflicts →
Prime Minister before
Ehud Olmert
Kadima
Prime Minister after
Benjamin Netanyahu
Likud
Largest force
Kadima
28 of 120 seats
Turnout
64.7%
The result
| Share of the Knesset | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kadima | — | 28 | -1 | 758,032 | 22.5% | — | |
| Likud | — | 27 | +15 | 729,054 | 21.6% | — | |
| Yisrael Beiteinu | — | 15 | +4 | 394,577 | 11.7% | — | |
| Labor Party | — | 13 | +6 | 334,900 | 9.9% | — | |
| Shas | — | 11 | +1 | 286,300 | 8.5% | — | |
| United Torah Judaism | — | 5 | +1 | 147,954 | 4.4% | — | |
| United Arab List–Ta'al | — | 4 | 0 | 113,954 | 3.4% | — | |
| National Union | — | 4 | 0 | 112,570 | 3.3% | — |
13 further seats went to parties and independents outside the main contenders listed above.