Category: Knesset


The municipal elections on October 22nd 2013 is the Israeli version of midterm elections.

When Israelis went to the polls on February 10, 2009, to elect the 18th Knesset it was decided that the elections for the 19th Knesset would on October 22nd 2013. The 18th Knesset chose to call for early elections on January 22nd 2013, ten months early.

There will be an election on October 22nd with 5.5 million Israelis going to the polls in 191 municipalities to choose their mayors and city councils. Israel’s political parties will be participating. Bayit Yehudi submitted the most lists in cities and towns with 85. Likud and Labor submitted 60 lists each and Yisrael Beytenu is running 46 lists. Yesh Atid, Shas, United Torah Judaism and Meretz will also run in selected cities. This is a chance for voters in most cities to decide if they will stick with their selections from ten months ago.

Israeli analysts will judge each party based on their gains and losses in the municipal elections just as American analysts judge Democrats and Republicans on Congress midterm elections.

Smith conducted a poll that was published by Globes on Aug 29 2013

Current Knesset seats in [brackets]

33 [31] Likud Beitenu

18 [15] Labor

13 [12] Bayit Yehudi

12 [19] Yesh Atid

11 [06] Mertez

10 [11] Shas

08 [07] Yahadut Hatorah/UTJ

04 [06] Movement

04 [04] Hadash

04 [04] Ra’am-Ta’al

03 [03] Balad

00 [02] Kadima

64 [61] Right-Religious

56 [59] Center-Left-Arab

Knesset Jeremy Analysis:

Likud Beitenu maintains their spot at the top of the polls. Yesh Atid who was tied with Likud Beitenu a few months ago has another poll placing them as the fourth largest party behind Labor and Bayit Yehudi. Meretz edges out Shas.

Panels conducted a poll that was broadcast by Knesset Channel 99 on Aug 5 2013

Current Knesset seats in [brackets]

30 [31] Likud Beitenu

17 [15] Labor

17 [12] Bayit Yehudi

13 [19] Yesh Atid

10 [11] Shas

10 [06] Mertez

06 [07] Yahadut Hatorah/UTJ

04 [06] Movement

04 [04] Hadash

04 [04] Ra’am-Ta’al

03 [03] Balad

02 [02] Kadima

63 [61] Right-Religious

57 [59] Center-Left-Arab

Knesset Jeremy Analysis:

Right-Religious block gains three seats in under a week as Lapid loses more support. Both Meretz and Shas are now within 3 seats of Yesh Atid. Labor and Bayit Yehudi tie for second largest party.

Questions on Lapid:

Do you trust Yair Lapid as Finance Minister?

78% Not Trust 20% Trust

What grade do you give Yair Lapid on choosing the next Bank of Israel Governor?

53% Terrible 33% Mediocre 8% Good 1% Very Good

Is Yair Lapid worthy to be a Prime Minister candidate?

82% Not Worthy 12% Worthy 6% Don’t Know

Was Minister Yuval Stinetz correct when he said Lapid is arrogant and thinks he deserves everything?

62% Correct 28% Not Correct 10% Don’t Know

Question to Yesh Atid voters #1: To what extant do you feel Yair Lapid fulfills his promises to voters?

54% Doesn’t Fulfill 46% Fullfill

Question to Yesh Atid voters #2: If elections were today would you vote Yesh Atid?

43% No  41% Yes 16% Don’t Know

UPDATE: Panels responded to my request. The margin of error for this poll was 4.3%.

Panels conducted a poll that was broadcast by Knesset Channel 99 on Aug 1 2013

Current Knesset seats in [brackets]

27 [31] Likud Beitenu

19 [15] Labor

16 [19] Yesh Atid

15 [12] Bayit Yehudi

10 [06] Mertez

09 [11] Shas

07 [07] Yahadut Hatorah/UTJ

04 [04] Hadash

03 [06] Movement

03 [04] Ra’am-Ta’al

03 [03] Balad

02 [02] Kadima (under threshold)

02 [00] Strong Israel (under threshold)

60 [61] Right-Religious

60 [59] Center-Left-Arab

Knesset Jeremy Analysis: The right-left block is tied at 60 in latest poll. With the new budget passed the current coalition should have smooth sailing until the start of 2015 unless diplomatic progress leads to a Bayit Yehudi exit. The Knesset started their recess. They will return for the winter session from October 14 2013 to March 19 2014. After going on another break they will return from May 12 2014 to Aug 6 2014.

Selected other questions from poll:

Do you support the bill raising the threshold?
63% Support 26% Do not support

Are you pleased with Finance Minister Lapid?
70% No 20% Yes

Will the economic situation improve following the budget?
62% Situation will be worse 3% Situation will be better

Smith conducted a poll that was published on Aug 1 2013 by Globes.

Current Knesset seats in [brackets]

33 [31] Likud Beitenu

18 [15] Labor

14 [19] Yesh Atid

13 [12] Bayit Yehudi

10 [06] Mertez

03 [06] Movement

29 [29] Shas, Yahadut Hatorah/UTJ, Hadash, Ra’am-Ta’al, Balad

03 [06] Movement

00 [02] Kadima (under threshold)

Knesset Jeremy Analysis:  Hard to analyze without other party breakdowns