Senior figures within Israel’s opposition bloc are exploring the possibility of reinstating direct elections for the prime minister as a potential solution to the ongoing political impasse following the most recent inconclusive Knesset elections. This approach would allow voters to elect the prime minister directly without dissolving the current parliament, a system Israel had employed between 1996 and 2001.
The March 1 election produced a stalemate, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc holding 53 seats, the opposition controlling 48, and Arab parties collectively securing 19 seats. Neither bloc has secured the 61-seat majority necessary to form a stable government. Despite 67 Knesset members being outside Netanyahu’s coalition, deep divisions among opposition leaders and commitments to avoid reliance on Arab parties have prevented formation of an alternative government.
Amid these challenges, opposition leaders are revisiting a concept reminiscent of the “Netanyahu 2021 direct election model,” a mechanism Netanyahu himself once proposed during the 24th Knesset election cycle to resolve deadlock without new parliamentary elections. Under that plan, the prime minister would be elected directly in a separate vote while the Knesset remained intact.
Current consideration of this approach stems partly from difficulties opposition leaders face in agreeing on a coalition that excludes Arab parties. Some, like Democrats chairman Yair Golan, advocate for their inclusion, while others, including Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Liberman, have set firm redlines against such cooperation.
Israel held three rounds of direct prime ministerial elections between 1996 and 2001. In 1996, Netanyahu was elected prime minister directly, defeating Shimon Peres, and in 1999, Ehud Barak unseated Netanyahu under the same system. A standalone prime ministerial election was held in 2001, resulting in Ariel Sharon’s victory. The system was subsequently abolished in late 2001, returning Israel to its standard parliamentary model, where the government is formed based on Knesset confidence.
Reinstating direct elections would require substantial legislative changes, as current law does not permit such a system. Additionally, proposals to introduce a two-term or eight-year limit on the prime minister’s tenure—potentially barring Netanyahu from future contests—are under discussion but face complex legal and constitutional hurdles regarding retroactive application and eligibility rights.
Critics note that even with a directly elected prime minister, parliamentary support remains essential for government stability, since the Knesset holds authority over confidence votes. A prime minister elected without sufficient legislative backing may struggle to govern effectively.
With Netanyahu continuing as caretaker prime minister and no consensus among opposition parties on a viable coalition, revisiting the electoral system has emerged as an option to break the deadlock. However, whether opponents can agree on altering the rules or whether such proposals will founder on the same divisions preventing a new government remains uncertain.