Israelis vote in unprecedented third general election in a year
Yes, Israelis went to the polls on March 23, 2021, to vote in the country's third general election in less than a year. The election was called after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main rival, Benny Gantz, failed to form a government following the previous election in September 2020.
The election was marked by a number of unprecedented factors, including:
- The third election in less than a year: Israel has never held three consecutive elections in such a short period of time.
- The rise of new parties: Several new parties entered the election, including the Yamina party led by Naftali Bennett and the New Hope party led by Gideon Sa'ar.
- The decline of traditional parties: The election saw a decline in support for traditional parties such as the Likud and the Labor Party.
- The emergence of a new center-left bloc: The election saw the emergence of a new center-left bloc led by the Blue and White party, which is a coalition of several smaller parties.
The results of the election were as follows:
- The Likud party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, won 30 seats in the Knesset (Israel's parliament).
- The Blue and White party, led by Benny Gantz, won 25 seats.
- The Yamina party, led by Naftali Bennett, won 7 seats.
- The New Hope party, led by Gideon Sa'ar, won 6 seats.
- The Labor Party, led by Merav Michaeli, won 7 seats.
The election resulted in a hung parliament, with no party or coalition able to form a majority government. The process of forming a government is ongoing, with several parties negotiating to form a coalition.
The election was marked by a number of controversies, including allegations of voter suppression and irregularities in the voting process. The election was also marked by a high level of polarization and division in Israeli society, with many voters expressing frustration and disillusionment with the political system.