Israeli Opposition Weighs Direct PM Vote to End Political Stalemate

The current political landscape leaves neither bloc with a clear majority to form a government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc holds 53 seats, the opposition bloc holds 48, and Arab parties hold 19. Although the opposition bloc and Arab parties collectively hold 67 seats in the 120-member Knesset, internal disagreements have hindered coalition building. Opposition leaders like Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman refuse to rely on Arab parties, while Yair Golan of the Democratic Party is open to the idea.

Under the proposed direct election model, which Netanyahu himself suggested in 2021, the public would vote directly for the prime minister without dissolving the Knesset. The winner would automatically be empowered to form a government, potentially a minority one, bypassing the need for a 61-seat parliamentary majority. The opposition is also reportedly considering advancing legislation to limit a prime minister's tenure to two terms, which could prevent Netanyahu from running.

Implementing this change would require significant legislative amendments to Israel's Basic Law: The Government. Israel previously used a direct election system between 1996 and 2001, which saw victories for Benjamin Netanyahu, Ehud Barak, and Ariel Sharon, before it was abandoned due to political fragmentation. The proposal remains one of several options under discussion, alongside holding new general elections or forming a national unity government with Netanyahu.