How Israel's electoral system picks a prime minister without a direct vote

Israelis vote for political parties, not directly for a prime minister, in parliamentary elections scheduled for October 27. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces potential loss of power amid public discontent following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and subsequent wars. The country uses a proportional representation system where parties must secure at least 3.25% of the national vote to enter the 120-member Knesset. After elections, the president consults faction representatives and assigns a lawmaker the task of forming a government, requiring a coalition with at least 61 parliamentary seats. The lawmaker given the mandate has 28 days, extendable by 14, to negotiate a coalition and present it for a Knesset confidence vote. The largest party does not automatically form the government, and failure to secure confidence can lead to fresh elections.