Israel Elections: General elections are scheduled to be held in Israel on October 27th. Before the elections, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could face a significant challenge from former army chief Gadi Eizenkot. On Thursday, the results of a survey conducted by Zaman Israel were released, showing Netanyahu's Likud party settling for just 21 seats, while Gadi's Yashar party is expected to win 25 seats.

61 seats are needed for a majority.

Simply put, Yashar appears to have a four-seat lead over the Likud party. Most surveys over the past few weeks have also shown Yashar ahead. However, the gap was narrow. In many surveys, Likud was tied or only 1-2 seats behind. In new surveys, this gap has widened to four seats. Even with Yashar becoming the largest party, forming a government will not be easy. Israel's parliament, the Knesset, has a total of 120 seats, and a majority requires 61 seats.

Know how many seats each alliance can get

The survey results project the opposition alliance, the Change Bloc, to win 58 seats, putting it just three seats short of a majority. Meanwhile, Netanyahu's supporters are projected to win a total of 50 seats, falling 11 seats short of a majority. Another coalition is projected to win 12 seats. The Ra'am Party and Hadash-Ta'al, which comprise this alliance, could win six seats each. This means no party has a majority to form a government before the elections.

What is the current state of the Israeli parliament?

The Likud party currently holds 32 seats in the Israeli parliament, while the main opposition party holds 24. The country's third-largest party, which supports Netanyahu's government, holds just 11 out of 120 seats.

Last date for nominations is September 7

Significantly, after 38 years, general elections in Israel will be held as scheduled. October 27th is the same date previously set for the general elections. Following demands from the coalition government, the Election Commission has decided to hold the voting on time. Candidates must file their nomination papers before September 7th. Furthermore, this will be the first time in 53 years that a government will go to the public after completing its five-year term.

After 53 years, a government completed its term.

Israeli politics has long been volatile. Early elections have often been forced due to coalition breakdowns, loss of majority, or political crises. However, this time, the incumbent government is entering the election field after completing its full term. This is the first time this has happened in 53 years.

How are general elections held in Israel?

Elections are held every four years in Israel. Voters vote for political parties instead of individual candidates. Each party receives seats in parliament based on its percentage of votes. A government is then formed by securing a majority. For example, if a party receives 10 percent of the vote, it wins 12 out of 120 seats. To win a seat in the Israeli parliament, a party must secure a minimum of 3.25 percent of the total vote. A party receiving fewer than this amount of votes is not eligible for a seat.