2009 Israeli legislative election

none November 2020 2006 2013 10 February 2009 All 120 seats in the Knesset 61 64.72% ( 1.17pp) Israel Kadima Tzipi Livni 28 29 22.47 Likud–Ahi Benjamin Netanyahu 27 12 21.61 Yisrael Beiteinu Avigdor Lieberman 15 11 11.70 Israeli Labor Party Ehud Barak 13 19 9.93 Shas Eli Yishai 11 12 8.49 United Torah Judaism Yaakov Litzman 5 6 4.39 Ra'am–Ta'al Ibrahim Sarsur 4 4 3.38 National Union (Israel) Yaakov Katz 4 6 3.34 Hadash Mohammad Barakeh 4 3 3.32 Meretz Haim Oron 3 5 2.95 Jewish Home Daniel Hershkowitz 3 3 2.87 Balad (political party) Jamal Zahalka 3 3 2.48 Prime Minister Ehud Olmert Kadima Benjamin Netanyahu Likud thumb|right|150px|A privacy divider to ensure ballot secrecy Legislative elections were held in Israel on 10 February 2009 to elect the 120 members of the eighteenth Knesset.Mazal Mualem https://www.haaretz.com/news/israel-sets-feburary-10-as-date-for-general-elections-1.256316 https://web.archive.org/web/20120629085733/http://www.haaretz.com/news/israel-sets-feburary-10-as-date-for-general-elections-1.256316 dead 29 June 2012 Israel sets February 10 as date for general elections Haaretz 2008-10-30 2014-09-04 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. Had Olmert remained in office or had Livni formed a coalition government, the elections would have been scheduled for 2010 instead. Although the incumbent prime minister's party, Kadima, won the most seats in the parliament, the Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu was able to form a majority coalition government and become the new prime minister. This was the first election in Israeli history in which the Israeli Labor Party or its predecessors did not win the most or second-most seats. Background On 17 September 2008, Kadima held a leadership election, which was won by Tzipi Livni. Following Livni's victory, former party leader Ehud Olmert (who did not run in the contest) resigned as prime minister. Livni was given six weeks to form a coalition,https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7613137.stm Q&A: Israeli elections BBC News 2009-02-02 2009-02-09 but set a deadline of 26 October for parties to agree to join the new government. Although the Labor Party agreed to join, current coalition member Shas rejected the opportunity; Livni claimed that it had made "economically and diplomatically illegitimate" demands (including a reluctance to increase child benefits, and rejection of the possible division of Jerusalem in a deal with the Palestinians).https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7691387.stm General election looms for Israel BBC News 2008-10-26 2009-02-09 It was reported that Shas had rejected almost one billion shekels in child allowances offered to it as part of the coalition negotiations.Shelly Paz https://www.jpost.com/Israel/Livni-Weve-made-final-offer-to-Shas Livni: We've made final offer to Shas The Jerusalem Post 2008-10-23 2014-09-04 Gil and United Torah Judaism had both rejected offers to join, while negotiations with Meretz-Yachad were still ongoing.https://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1031253.html Livni: I won't sell Israel's future for the prime minister's seat Haaretz 2008-10-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20081028062536/http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1031253.html 2008-10-28 On 26 October, Livni recommended to President Shimon Peres that early elections be held. President Peres had three days to consult on the recommendation, after which there was a period of three weeks in which other Knesset members could have offered to form an alternative coalition, but no such alternative was brought. The election would have to be held within 90 days after the end of that period. Although Kadima submitted a bill to the Knesset on 27 October to call early elections and bypass the three-week period,https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7692611.stm Peres sets Israel polls in train BBC News 2008-10-27 2009-02-09 Peres' announcement to the Knesset that there was no chance of forming a government meant that the full waiting period stood. Ehud Olmert was to remain the caretaker prime minister until a new government was formed after the elections. The traditional distinction between the Israeli left and the right had become blurred, with both the voters and the main candidates gravitating toward the center. Israelis, who had always been highly politicized, were switching affiliations more easily. On the Palestinian front, stark differences among the parties still remained. Kadima was committed to continuing talks for a two-state solution. Labor did not believe that bilateral Israeli–Palestinian negotiations could succeed under the current circumstances, and advocated a more comprehensive, regional approach to peace. Likud said it would promote an "economic peace" with the Palestinians and also hold political negotiations, although it was not clear about what.Kershner Isabel Isabel Kershner https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/world/middleeast/07israel.html Indecision Reigns as Israelis Get Ready to Vote The New York Times 2009-02-07 2009-02-09http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_wires/2009Feb07/0,4675,MLIsraelElectionThumbnails,00.html A look at top PM candidates in Israel's election Fox News Associated Press 2009-02-07 2014-09-04 Procedures Elections in Israel Elections to the Knesset allocate 120 seats by party-list proportional representation, using the D'Hondt method. The election threshold for the 2006 election was set at 2% (up from 1.5% in previous elections), which is a little over two seats. After official results are published, the president delegates the task of forming a government to the member of Knesset with the best chance of assembling a majority coalition (usually the leader of the largest party, but not required). That member has up to 42 days to negotiate with the different parties, and then present the government to the Knesset for a vote of confidence. Once the government is approved (by a vote of at least 61 members), the leader becomes prime minister. Parliament factions List of political parties in Israel The table below lists the parliamentary factions represented in the 17th Knesset. Name Ideology Symbol Leader 2006 resultSeats at 2008dissolution Votes (%) Seats Kadima Liberalism כן Tzipi Livni22.02% 29 120 Kadima29 120 Kadima Labor Social democracy אמת Ehud Barak15.06% 19 120 Israeli Labor Party19 120 Israeli Labor Party Shas Religious conservatism שס Eli Yishai9.53% 12 120 Shas12 120 Shas Likud National liberalism מחל Benjamin Netanyahu8.99% 12 120 Likud12 120 Likud Yisrael Beiteinu NationalismSecularism ל Avigdor Lieberman8.99% 11 120 Yisrael Beiteinu11 120 Yisrael Beiteinu National Union-NRP Religious ZionismNational conservatism טב Yaakov Katz7.14% 9 120 #01367B9 120 #01367B Gil Pensioners' interests זך Rafi Eitan5.92% 7 120 #519C577 120 #519C57 UTJ Religious conservatism ג Yaakov Litzman4.69% 6 120 United Torah Judaism6 120 United Torah Judaism Meretz Social democracySecularism מרצ Haim Oron3.77% 5 120 Meretz5 120 Meretz Ra'am-Ta'al Arab nationalismIslamism עם Ibrahim Sarsur3.02% 4 120 United Arab List4 120 United Arab List Hadash CommunismSocialism ו Mohammad Barakeh2.74% 3 120 Hadash3 120 Hadash Balad Arab nationalismPan-arabism ד Jamal Zahalka2.30% 3 120 Balad (political party)3 120 Balad (political party) Parties Party lists for the 2009 Israeli legislative election 2008 The Jewish Home leadership election 2008 Kadima leadership election 2008 Meretz leadership election 2007 Israeli Labor Party leadership election 2007 Likud leadership election By 23 December 2008, a record 43 parties had registered with the parties registrar, compared to 31 for the 2006 elections,Shelly Paz https://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1229868820492&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull Record 43 parties are tentatively registered for February's election The Jerusalem Post 2008-12-23 dead 2016-10-29 2016-03-09 https://web.archive.org/web/20160309120911/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-159562236.html although in the end, only 34 parties submitted a list of candidates,Maayana Miskin https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129127 34 Parties Make Knesset Bid Arutz Sheva 2008-12-30 2009-02-09 and only 33 ran on election day. On 12 January 2009, Balad and the United Arab List–Ta'al alliance were disqualified by the Central Elections Committee on the grounds that they failed to recognize Israel as a Jewish state and called for armed conflict against it.Aviad Glickman https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3654866,00.html Arab parties disqualified from elections Yedioth Ahronoth 2009-01-12 2009-02-09 Balad and Ta'al were also disqualified from the 2003 election, but won a Supreme Court case which allowed them to run.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/2641227.stm Poll ban on Arab Israelis lifted BBC News 2003-01-09 2009-02-09 On 21 January 2009, the Supreme Court again revoked the ban.https://www.haaretz.com/news/elections/supreme-court-overturns-ban-on-arab-parties-from-national-elections-1.268900 https://web.archive.org/web/20101012060253/http://www.haaretz.com/news/elections/supreme-court-overturns-ban-on-arab-parties-from-national-elections-1.268900 dead 12 October 2010 Supreme Court revokes ban on Arab parties from national elections Haaretz 2009-01-26 2009-02-09 Alliances The Labor–Meimad alliance, in existence since 1999, was ended prior to the elections. Labor ran on its own, and Meimad ran a joint list with the new Green Movement.Ehud Zion Waldoks https://www.jpost.com/Israel/Green-Movement-Meimad-run-together Green Movement, Meimad run together The Jerusalem Post 2008-12-18 2014-09-04 Meretz and Tnu'a HaHadasha, a new movement of left-wing activists led by Tzali Reshef, ran a joint list, with Tnua'a HaHadasha representatives getting third, seventh, and eleventh spots on the alliance's list.Shelly Paz https://www.jpost.com/Israel/Hatnua-Hahadasha-Meretz-work-on-combined-list Hatnua Hahadasha, Meretz work on combined list The Jerusalem Post 2008-12-18 2014-09-04 The anti-West Bank barrier movement Tarabut was merged into Hadash.Sharon Roffe-Ofir https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3637894,00.html Hadash merges with anti-fence movement Yedioth Ahronoth 2008-12-18 2009-02-09 The religious Zionist Ahi party, previously part of the National Union alliance, merged into Likud in late December 2008.Gil Hoffman https://www.jpost.com/Israel/Likud-Eitams-party-sign-agreement-to-run-together Likud, Eitam's party sign agreement to run together The Jerusalem Post 2008-12-29 2014-09-04 Ultra-Orthodox parties Agudat Israel and Degel HaTorah agreed to continue their alliance, United Torah Judaism, for the election.Mathew Wagner https://www.jpost.com/Israel/UTJ-decides-to-run-again-as-unified-party UTJ decides to run again as unified party The Jerusalem Post 2008-12-29 2014-09-04 New parties Several political parties had been established since the 2006 elections. The first was Social Justice, founded by billionaire Arcadi Gaydamak in February 2007 (which in the end did not run in the election), and Yisrael Hazaka was established by the former Labor member of the Knesset, Efraim Sneh, in May 2008. After the announcement of elections in late October 2008, the Tkuma and Moledet factions of the National Union and the National Religious Party merged into a single party in early November 2008,Jason Koutsoukis https://www.theage.com.au/world/israeli-left-tries-a-new-party-20081117-692l.html Israeli Left Tries a New Party The Age 2008-11-18 2009-02-09 Melbourne which was later named The Jewish Home. However, the National Union was re-established after the Moledet and Tkuma factions broke away from the party and agreed to an alliance with Hatikva headed by Aryeh Eldad and Eretz Yisrael Shelanu (Our Land of Israel) headed by Rabbi Sholom Dov Wolpo and Baruch Marzel.Efrat Weiss https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3638884,00.html Marzel, Rabbi Wolpo to run for Knesset Yedioth Ahronoth 2008-12-15 2009-02-09Matthew Wagner https://www.jpost.com/Israel/Arutz-7-head-to-chair-NU-Habayit-Hayehudi-reshuffles-list Arutz 7 head to chair NU; Habayit Hayehudi reshuffles list The Jerusalem Post 2009-12-29 2014-09-04Abe Selig https://www.jpost.com/Israel/Moledet-breaks-from-newly-formed-Bayit-Hayehudi Moledet breaks from newly formed Bayit Hayehudi The Jerusalem Post 2009-12-18 2016-10-29 Member of the Knesset Abbas Zakour left the United Arab List to establish the Arab Centre Party in early December 2008.Sharon Roffe-Ofir https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3632929,00.html MK Zkoor launches new Arab party Yedioth Ahronoth 2008-12-03 2009-02-09 However, he later joined the Balad list.https://jta.org/news/article/2009/02/02/1002697/party-lists The party lists for Feb. 10 Jewish Telegraphic Agency 2009-02-02 2009-02-23 Opinion polls Opinion polling for the 2009 Israeli legislative election SourceDateKadimaLabor PartyShasLikudYisraelBeiteinuJewishHomeNationalUnionGilUTJMeretzRa'am–Ta'alHadashBaladGreensElection result10 Feb 29 19 12 12 11 9 7 6 5 4 3 3 0 Dahaf27 Octhttps://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3613519,00.html Kadima beats Likud in new poll Yedioth Ahronoth 2008-10-27 2009-02-09 29 11 11 26 9 7 2 7 6 10 2Teleseker27 OctTzvi Ben Gedalyahu https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/128092 Polls: Next Coalition Will Need Nationalist and Religious MKs Arutz Sheva 2008-10-27 2009-02-09 31 11 8 29 11 7 0 4 5 11 3Gal Hadash30 Octhttp://62.128.57.2/Olive/AM3/Israel/Default.htm?href=ITD/2008/10/30&pageno=3 https://web.archive.org/web/20090216164712/http://62.128.57.2/Olive/AM3/Israel/Default.htm?href=ITD%2F2008%2F10%2F30&pageno=3 dead 16 February 2009 Tie between the right and the left Israel HaYom 2009-10-30 2009-02-09 30 13 10 31 8 6 0 5 5 10 2Gal Hadash13 Novhttp://62.128.57.2/Olive/AM3/Israel/Default.htm?href=ITD%2F2008%2F11%2F13&pageno=1 https://web.archive.org/web/20110530191451/http://62.128.57.2/Olive/AM3/Israel/Default.htm?href=ITD%2F2008%2F11%2F13&pageno=1 dead 2011-05-30 Likud is Opening a Gap Israel HaYom 2009-11-13 2009-02-09 28 11 10 33 7 6 0 5 7 10 3Dialog20 NovAaron Lerner https://www.imra.org.il/story.php3?id=41461 3 polls Likud 32-34, Kadima 23-28, Labor 8-10 Independent Media Review Analysis 2008-11-20 2009-02-09 28 10 10 34 10 4 0 6 7 11 0Dahaf20 Novhttps://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1226404785627&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull https://archive.today/20120529161554/http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1226404785627&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull dead 2012-05-29 Polls show Likud heading to victory in elections The Jerusalem Post 2008-11-20 2009-02-09 26 8 11 32 9 6 0 7 7 11 3Shvakim Panorama15 Dechttp://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/32419/support_for_likud_soars_before_israeli_ballot Support for Likud Soars Before Israeli Ballot Angus Reid Global Monitor 2008-12-15 2009-02-09 usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20090217123139/http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/view/32419/support_for_likud_soars_before_israeli_ballot 17 February 2009 20 14 12 34 11 4 0 7 6 9 0Teleseker19 Dechttp://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART1/827/749.html he:סקר מעריב וטלסקר: שוויון בין קדימה לליכוד Ma'ariv and TeleSeker poll: equality between Likud and Kadima Maariv he 2008-12-19 2009-02-09 30 12 9 30 12 5 0 5 7 10 0Dialog25 DecYossi Verter https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/1.1369657 he:סקר "הארץ": הליכוד איבד 6 מנדטים בתוך שבועיים Haaretz survey: Likud lost six seats in two weeks Haaretz he 2008-12-25 2014-09-04 26 11 13 30 11 6 2 5 8 3 3 2 –Dialog31 DecYehudah Lev Kay https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/129169 Gaza Operation Boosts Labor, Barak in Latest Poll Arutz Sheva 2009-01-01 2009-02-09 27 16 9 32 11 3 – 5 7 4 4 2 –Reshet Bet15 Janhttp://www.iba.org.il/bet/Doc/DOC453374.pdf he:סקר "הכל דיבורים" Survey 'All Talk' Kol Yisrael Hebrew 2009-02-09 23 January 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090205004013/http://www.iba.org.il/bet/Doc/DOC453374.pdf 5 February 2009 dead 21 15 10 28 15 3 3 0 7 5 4 3 3 3Panels22 Janhttps://www.mako.co.il/news/elections-2009/polls/Articles/itemId=5ee7e734f8efe110VgnVCM2000002a0c10acRCRD he:סקר: קדימה הולכת אחורה, נתניהו מגדיל את הפער Poll: Kadima going back, Netanyahu increases the gap Channel 2 he 2009-01-22 2009-02-09 24 15 10 30 15 2 4 – 5 6 4 3 2 –Dialog29 Janhttp://www.politico.co.il/article.asp?rId=1042 he:סקר "הארץ": אביגדור ליברמן עוקף את העבודה Haaretz he 2009-01-29 2009-02-09 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090203071519/http://www.politico.co.il/article.asp?rId=1042 3 February 2009 25 14 10 28 15 3 4 2 5 5 4 3 2 –Midgam3 Febhttp://www.politico.co.il/article.asp?rId=1135 https://web.archive.org/web/20090205114059/http://www.politico.co.il/article.asp?rId=1135 dead 2009-02-05 he:שבוע לבחירות: ישראל ביתנו מתחזקת על חשבון הליכוד Haaretz he 2009-02-03 2009-02-09 23 17 10 28 18 4 3 – 5 4 2 4 2 –Teleseker4 Febhttp://www.politico.co.il/article.asp?rId=1176 he:סקר: הפער בין הליכוד לקדימה מצטמצם Haaretz he 2009-02-04 2009-02-09 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090207044148/http://www.politico.co.il/article.asp?rId=1176 7 February 2009 23 17 10 27 17 3 4 – 5 6 4 4 0 –Shvakim Panorama5 Febhttp://www.politico.co.il/article.asp?rId=1218 https://web.archive.org/web/20090208155236/http://www.politico.co.il/article.asp?rId=1218 dead 2009-02-08 he:סקר חברת "שווקים פנורמה": נתניהו מוביל עם 25 מנדטים לבני מאחור עם 21 Haaretz he 2009-02-05 2009-02-09 21 16 11 25 16 4 4 2 7 5 3 4 2 –Panels5 Febhttp://www.politico.co.il/article.asp?rId=1235 https://web.archive.org/web/20090208155231/http://www.politico.co.il/article.asp?rId=1235 dead 2009-02-08 he:סקר ערוץ הכנסת: בנימין נתניהו והליכוד בצניחה חופשית Haaretz he 2009-02-05 2009-02-09 25 14 10 26 18 3 4 – 5 6 3 4 2 –Dahaf6 Febhttps://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3667688,00.html Likud, Kadima in head-to-head race Yedioth Ahronoth 2009-02-06 2009-02-09 23 16 10 25 19 3 4 – 6 5 4 3 2 –Dialog6 FebMazal Mualem Yossi Verter https://www.haaretz.co.il/news/politics/1.1244246 he:סקר "הארץ": קרב צמוד בין ציפי לבני לבנימין נתניהו Haaretz Survey: tight race between Livni and Benjamin Netanyahu Haaretz he 2009-02-06 2009-02-09 25 14 9 27 18 2 4 – 6 7 3 3 2 – Results thumb|right|200px|The Likud Party chairman Benjamin Netanyahu. Although the Likud party placed second in the 2009 elections, the right-wing parties won a majority; thus, Netanyahu managed to form a coalition government after the elections, and thus became the new Prime Minister. thumb|right|200px|Ballot papers File:Israel Knesset 2009.svg Kadima 758032 28 −1 Likud 729054 27 +15 Yisrael Beiteinu 394577 15 +4 Labor Party 334900 13 –6 Shas 286300 11 –1 United Torah Judaism 147954 5 –1 United Arab List–Ta'al 113954 4 0 National Union 112570 4 0 Hadash 112130 4 +1 New Movement-Meretz 99611 3 –2 The Jewish Home 96765 3 0 Balad 83739 3 0 The Green Movement–Meimad 27737 0 –1 Gil 17571 0 –7 Ale Yarok 13132 0 0 The Greens 12378 0 0 Yisrael Hazaka 6722 0 New Tzabar 4752 0 New Koah LeHashpi'a 3696 0 New Da'am Workers Party 2645 0 0 Yisrael HaMithadeshet 2572 0 New Holocaust Survivors and Grown-Up Green Leaf Party 2346 0 New Leader 1887 0 0 Tzomet 1520 0 0 Koah HaKesef 1008 0 0 Man's Rights in the Family Party 921 0 0 HaYisraelim 856 0 New Or 815 0 New Ahrayut 802 0 New Brit Olam 678 0 0 Lev LaOlim 632 0 0 Lazuz 623 0 New Lehem 611 0 New 43097 0 5278985 Knesset Board of Elections Government formation thumb|right|300px|Former Kadima party chairwoman Tzipi Livni. Although Kadima won the most seats in the 2009 elections under her leadership, it became an opposition party. On 20 February, President Shimon Peres announced that Likud's Benjamin Netanyahu would be given the task of forming a government.Amy Teibel http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2009Feb20/0,4670,MLIsraelPolitics,00.html Netanyahu urges moderates to join broad government Associated Press Fox News 2009-02-20 2014-09-04 This is the first time in which the president had not appointed the head of the largest party for this task, although there had already been several cases in which the Prime Minister was not the head of the largest party. Such a case occurred in the 1996 elections, when Netanyahu himself was elected Prime Minister by direct vote, although his Likud party won fewer seats than Shimon Peres's Labor party. Peres's motivation in nominating Netanyahu was likely based upon the judgement that Netanyahu was in a better position numerically to put together a coalition. Likud's potential partners on the political right won more seats than the parties of the centre-left, who would more likely support Kadima. Labor and Kadima initially stated they would not join a Likud-led government, although both parties scheduled further talks.http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6599200.html Barak: Israel's Labor party heading to opposition Xinhua News Agency People's Daily 2009-02-23 2009-02-23http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Labour+unlikely+to+join+Netanyahu+govt%3A+minister-a01611799170 Labour unlikely to join Netanyahu govt: minister Agence France-Presse The Free Library 2009-02-23 2014-09-04 August 2026 InternetArchiveBot http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6599170.html Israel's Livni, Netanyahu agree to more coalition talks Xinhua News Agency People's Daily 2009-02-23 2009-02-23 Polls at the time showed that the public supported a national unity government between Likud and Kadima, with either Yisrael Beiteinu or Labor as the third senior coalition member.http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6598442.html Poll: Israeli public in favor of unity gov't Xinhua News Agency People's Daily 2009-02-23 2009-02-23 On 16 March 2009, Netanyahu signed a coalition agreement with Yisrael Beitenu.Jonathan Ferziger https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=ajxrcFhXnIA0&refer=home Likud, Yisrael Beitenu Reach Tentative Coalition Pact Bloomberg 16 March 2009 4 September 2014 Following an extension of the coalition negotiation deadline from 20 March to 3 April 2009, he then signed a coalition agreement with Shas on 22 March 2009,Yair Ettinger Shahar Ilan https://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/shas-likud-coalition-deal-includes-record-funding-for-yeshivas-boosts-child-allowances-1.272744 https://web.archive.org/web/20101122155152/http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/shas-likud-coalition-deal-includes-record-funding-for-yeshivas-boosts-child-allowances-1.272744 dead 22 November 2010 Shas-Likud coalition deal includes record funding for yeshivas, boosts child allowances Haaretz 24 March 2009 4 September 2014 and on 24 March 2009, he secured the support of the Labor Party, with Labor's central committee approving the deal by 680 votes to 507.http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/24/israels-labor-votes-to-join-netanyahu-government/?page=all Israel's Labor votes to join Netanyahu government Associated Press 24 March 2009 4 September 2014 However, large parts of the party remained sceptical, accusing Ehud Barak of only being interested in his own benefits under the deal.http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5966884.ece Ehud Barak agrees to join coalition with Benjamin Netanyahu The Times 25 March 2009September 2024 medicmedic On 25 March, the Jewish Home also joined the coalition.Marcy Oster https://jta.org/news/article/2009/03/25/1003969/habayit-hayehudi-to-join-likud-government HaBayit HaYehuda to join Likud government Jewish Telegraphic Agency 25 March 2009 4 September 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20120905044945/http://www.jta.org/news/article/2009/03/25/1003969/habayit-hayehudi-to-join-likud-government 5 September 2012 dead On 30 March, in accordance with the Israeli Basic Law,https://www.knesset.gov.il/laws/special/eng/basic14_eng.htm Basic Law: the Government (2001) The Knesset 4 September 2014 13(b): "Where the Knesset Member has formed a Government, he shall notify the President of the State and the Speaker of the Knesset to such effect, and the Speaker of the Knesset shall notify the Knesset and set a date for the presentation of the Government to the Knesset within seven days of such notification." Netanyahu informed Peres and acting Knesset speaker, Michael Eitan, that he was able to form a government and the Knesset was set to convene on 31 March 2009, in order to vote on the government in a "Vote of Confidence" and to be sworn in thereafter.http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Netanyahu-government-to-be-sworn-in-on-March-31-/articleshow/4328872.cms Netanyahu government to be sworn in on March 31 Times of India dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090402151516/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Netanyahu-government-to-be-sworn-in-on-March-31-/articleshow/4328872.cms 2 April 2009 The country's 32nd government was approved that day by a majority of 69 lawmakers,https://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3695323,00.html ynet הכנסת אישרה: ממשלת נתניהו יצאה לדרך - חדשות היום Yedioth Ahronoth.co.il 1995-06-20 2010-06-27 with United Torah Judaism joining the following day, expanding the coalition to 74 MKs.http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90854/6627620.html Israel's ruling coalition expands with another right-wing party Xinhua 1 April 2009 4 September 2014 Unity Government 2012 On 27 March 2012, the opposition party Kadima held leadership primaries, pitting its leader Tzipi Livni against Shaul Mofaz.https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4177250,00.html Livni moves up Kadima primary elections to March 27 18 January 2012 Yedioth Ahronoth 19 January 2012 Mofaz won with 62% of the vote. Livni resigned from the Knesset in May 2012.https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-17908446 Tzipi Livni resigns as member of Israeli parliament BBC News 1 May 2012 4 September 2014 Earlier, Netanyahu defeated his rival Moshe Feiglin, winning 77% of the vote in the primaries for the Likud leadership held on 31 January 2012.http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=2956 Likud primary results: Netanyahu 77%, Feiglin 23% 2 February 2012 Israel Hayom 8 May 2012 On the eve of 7 May 2012, after weeks of deliberation and rumours, Netanyahu called for an early general national election and proposed 4 September as the election day, a notion which seemed inevitable—but in a dramatic turn of events, that very night, he announced that he had forged a unity government with the Kadima Party, effectively retracting the earlier call for early elections. The next afternoon, Likud and Kadima signed a coalition agreement placing Kadima's 28 Knesset members in the government, with Mofaz appointed as Active Vice Premier (in case of Netanyahu's absence) and Minister Without Portfolio. This agreement bolstered the government to the widest government in Israel's history, with a coalition of 94 seats and an opposition of only 26.https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4226248,00.html Netanyahu: Unity government will restore stability 8 May 2012 Yedioth Ahronoth 8 May 2012 However, on 17 July, Kadima voted to pull out of the coalition—which, all the same, retained a majority of seats even without that party. The reduced coalition was now divided between nationalist groups, such as Yisrael Beiteinu, and Haredi groups, such as Shas, which are on opposite sides of the universal draft issue. This led some commentators to suggest that the coalition's complete break-up was imminent, and that new elections would take place by January 2013.Karl Vick https://world.time.com/2012/07/17/kadimas-departure-leaves-netanyahus-coalition-at-odds-with-itself/ Kadima's Departure Leaves Netanyahu's Coalition at Odds with Itself Time 2012-07-17 2014-09-04 See also List of members of the eighteenth Knesset 2008 Israeli Labor Party primary References External links Knesset site with official results he Elections in Israel - February 2009 from the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs Where they stand: Israeli election 2009 Documentary about the election by KAN [VPN needed with an Israeli IP address] Analysis Israel's Elections: Making a Hard Right By TIM MCGIRK, Time 8 Feb. 2009 Legislative Category:Legislative elections in Israel Legislative Israel