Episode #9
Israel Votes: Elections 101 for Olim and You! S04 E09
News commentator Benyamin Moalem joins David Levine for an Elections 101 guide to Israel's 2026 election — explaining parties, the Knesset, the 3.25% threshold, coalitions, the race to 61 seats, and what olim need to know before going to the kalpi . Israel's election system can feel completely foreign to a new oleh, let alone folks outside the country. There are no local congressional districts. You don't directly elect the prime minister. Instead, voters choose among national party lists, and after the votes are counted, the real battle begins: building a coalition capable of commanding a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. In the first installment of our special Israel Votes series, David Levine sits down with news commentator Benyamin Moalem for an Elections 101 guide to Israeli politics. Benyamin explains the basics of proportional representation, the 3.25% electoral threshold, how smaller parties can determine the outcome of an election, why 61 seats matter, and what happens when no political bloc can form a government. The conversation also explores the political blocs and parties as they stood at the time of recording, Arab parties, party mergers, the president's role in the government-formation process, and some of the major differences between Israeli and American elections. Finally, David and Benyamin get practical: what you actually see when you walk into an Israeli polling place, who can vote from outside the country, and what English-speaking olim should be thinking about as Election Day approaches. Israel's election for the 26th Knesset is scheduled for October 27, 2026 Please don't forget to like and subscribe! And please leave a comment! IG: @aliyah_stories Produced by Lightboat Media Ltd. https://lightboat.media
