Israel's political system is based on proportional representation which allows for a multi-party system with numerous parties.

There are currently five parties with more than ten seats in the 120-seat Knesset, and a single party usually has no chance of gaining power by itself (only once has a party held an absolute majority in the Knesset), forcing the parties to cooperate and form coalition governments.

Current parties

Parties with Knesset representation

Other parties

• Ahrayut
• Ale Yarok
• Brit Olam
• Gil
• Green Movement-Meimad
• HaYisraelim
• Holocaust Survivors and Ale Yarok Alumni
• Koah HaKesef
• Koah LeHashpi'a
• Lazuz
• Leader
• Lehem
• Lev LaOlim
• Man's Rights in the Family Party
• Or
• Organization for Democratic Action
• The Greens
• Tzabar
• Tzomet
• Yisrael Hazaka
• Yisrael HaMithadeshet

Former parties

Parties with Knesset seats

Parties without Knesset seats

• Hatzohar - the original Revisionist Zionist party, disbanded after failing to cross the electoral threshold in the 1949 elections.
• Popular Arab Bloc - Arab party that ran in the 1949 elections.
• Tafnit - ran in the 2006 elections.
• Women's Party - ran in the 1977 elections.

Name changes

• Banai became Tehiya-Bnai then Tehiya
• Emunim became Tkuma
• Equality in Israel-Panthers became the Unity Party
• Flatto-Sharon became Development and Peace
• Hitkhabrut became the Renewed Religious National Zionist Party, then Ahi
• Israel in the Centre became the Centre Party
• Meretz became Yachad then Meretz-Yachad
• Movement for Change and Initiative became Shinui
• Mizrachi-Hapoel HaMizrachi became the National Religious Front then the National Religious Party
• National Responsibility became Kadima
• National Unity - National Progressive Alliance became Progressive National Alliance
• Parliamentary Group of Bronfman and Tsinker became Makhar, then the Democratic Choice
• Party for the Advancement of the Zionist Idea became the New Liberal Party
• Rafi – National List became Ometz
• Rakah became Maki
• Secular Faction became Hetz
• Social-Democratic Faction became the Independent Socialist Faction
• Shinui - Centre Party became Shinui - the Secular Movement, then Shinui - Party for the Secular and the Middle Class, but is generally known as Shinui

Zionist youth movements

• Betar (associated with Likud)
• Bnei Akiva (Sons of Akiva, associated with the National Religious Party)
• Habonim Dror (The Builders - Freedom, socialist Zionist youth movement)
• Hashomer Hatzair (The Young Guard, socialist Zionist youth movement associated with Mapam and Meretz-Yachad)
• Magshimey Herut (associated with Herut)
• HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed (The Learning and Working Youth, socialist Zionist youth movement)
• Noar Avoda (Labour Youth, associated with Labour)
• Noar Moledet (Moledet Youth, associated with Moledet)
• Noar Meretz (Meretz Youth, associated with Meretz-Yachad)

See also

• Index of political parties to browse parties by name
• List of political parties to browse parties by country
• List of political parties by ideology
• Membership of internationals to browse parties by membership of internationals
• Liberalism in Israel
• Labour Zionism
• Revisionist Zionism

External links

• The Israel Project: Political Parties in Israel
• Party registrar, list of registered political parties Ministry of Justice
• Parties participating in the 2006 elections Knesset website
• All parliamentary groups Knesset website