Number of seats won in the 25th Knesset elections in Israel 2022, by political party

The 2022 Israeli parliamentary elections saw the Likud party, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, secure 32 seats in the 120-member Knesset. This victory marked a return to power for Netanyahu, who had previously served as prime minister for over a decade. Yesh Atid, led by Yair Lapid, was the second-largest party in Knesset, with 24 seats. The party was instrumental in forming the previous coalition government, which deprived Netanyahu of the premiership for about a year and a half. However, the election results and subsequent political developments have highlighted the complexity of Israeli politics and the capricious nature of the Prime Miniter’s support.

Will Benjamin Netanyahu overcome the post-war backlash?

Despite his electoral success, Prime Minister Netanyahu has faced growing disapproval since taking office. By spring 2024, 58% of Israeli adults held an unfavorable opinion of the prime minister, with only 41% viewing him favorably. This decline in popularity has been particularly pronounced since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, indicating a difficult electoral challenge ahead.

Regional voting patterns hint at ideological clashes

The 2022 election results revealed significant regional differences across Israel. Voters from Tel Aviv supported the centrist opposition party Yesh Atid, which won almost 33 percent of their votes. The party outperformed Netanyahu's Likud party, which garnered only 17 percent of Tel Aviv ballots. Conversely, in Jerusalem, the Likud received just over 19 percent of votes, while their allies in the ultra-orthodox parties secured over 40 percent of local support. The opposition Yesh Atid party won only 7.5 percent of the votes in the capital. The split between the Israel’s two largest cities mirrors divides across the nation, largely falling on lines of wealth, religion, and social background.