Who Gets to Govern? Coalition Options After Israel’s Election

Israelis have voted for the first time since October 7, the hostage crisis, and the war with Iran, and turnout was the highest in more than 25 years. Yet neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor Gadi Eisenkot is anywhere near the 61 seats needed to govern. In this lesson, students work out the coalition math, and then act as advisors to Netanyahu, Eisenkot, or President Isaac Herzog, recommending what their leader should do.

Big Ideas

1. Winning the most seats is not the same as winning the right to govern. A prime minister needs more votes in favor than against, usually 61 of 120.
2. When neither bloc has a majority, parties that no leader planned to govern with can decide who governs.
3. Every coalition option costs something: a campaign promise, a partner, or more time with no government.
4. The president guides the process, but only the parties can create a majority.

Essential Questions

1. After record turnout, do parties owe voters a government, and what price is too high?
2. If a party that vowed never to sit with Netanyahu ends up in his government, is that a betrayal of voters or the whole point of coalition politics?
3. Why are parties ruling out the Arab parties, and what does that say about the role of Arab citizens in Israel's democracy?
4. What should a leader do when every option has a cost?