Israel's political system, based on proportional representation, allows for a multi-party system with numerous parties represented in the 120-seat Knesset. This article lists the political parties in Israel.
Due to the low election threshold of 3.25% (and only 1% from 1949 until 1988), a typical Knesset includes a large number of factions represented. In the 2015 elections, for instance, 10 parties or alliances cleared the threshold, and five of them won at least 10 seats. The low threshold, in combination with the nationwide party-list system, make it all but impossible for a single party to win the 61 seats needed for a majority government. No party has ever won a majority of seats in an election, the most being 56, won by the Alignment grouping in the 1969 elections (the Alignment had briefly held a majority of seats before the elections following its formation in January 1969). As a result, while only three parties (or their antecedents) have ever led governments, all Israeli governments as of 2015 have been coalitions comprising two or more parties.
The following parties are represented following the 2015 elections:
The following parties do not have Knesset seats at present:
Ahrayut
Ale Yarok
Brit Olam
Da'am Workers Party, Organization for Democratic Action
Dor
Eretz Hadasha
Green Movement
Yachad
HaYisraelim
Holocaust Survivors and Grown-Up Green Leaf Party
Kadima (held seats from 2005 to 2015)
Koah HaKesef
Koah LeHashpi'a
Lazuz
Leader
Lehem
Lev LaOlim
Man's Rights in the Family Party
Meimad (held seats between 1999 and 2009 as part of One Israel alliance)
Or
Otzma Yehudit (held seats between 2012 and 2013 after breaking away from the National Union, then under the name Otzma LeYisrael)
Sons of the New Testament
The Greens
Tzabar
Tzomet (held seats between 1987 and 1999; in 1996 elections formed a joint "National Camp List" with the Likud and Gesher)
U'Bizchutan— founded in 2015 as an Orthodox Jewish women's party
Yisrael Hazaka
Yisrael HaMithadeshet
Atid Ehad—ran in the 2006 elections.
Hatzohar—the original Revisionist Zionist party, disbanded after failing to cross the electoral threshold in the 1949 elections.
Popular Arab Bloc—Arab satellite list that ran in the 1949 elections.
Tafnit—ran in the 2006 elections.
Women's Party—ran in the 1977 elections.
Yamin Yisrael—broke away from Moledet, another right-wing party, prior to 1996 elections, but failed to cross the electoral threshold.
The following parties changed their names
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, then Meretz again
Movement for Change and Initiative became Shinui
Mizrachi-Hapoel HaMizrachi became the National Religious Front, then Mafdal (National Religious Party), then The Jewish Home
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
Betar (associated with Herut and then Likud)
Bnei Akiva (Sons of Akiva, associated with Mafdal (National Religious Party))
Habonim Dror (The Builders - Freedom, socialist Zionist youth movement associated with the Israeli Labor Party)
Hashomer Hatzair (The Young Guard, socialist Zionist youth movement associated with Mapam and unofficially with Meretz)
Magshimey Herut (associated with Herut)
HaNoar HaOved VeHaLomed (The Learning and Working Youth,socialist Zionist youth movement, sister movement to Habonim Dror, associated with the Israeli Labor Party and the Histadrut)
Noar Avoda (Labour Youth, associated with Labour)
Noar Moledet (Moledet Youth, associated with Moledet)
Tzeiri Meretz (Young Meretz for 18- to-35-year-olds) and Noar Meretz (Meretz Youth for under 18s, associated with Meretz)
Noar Meir and the Hilltop Youth (associated with Kach and its various successor parties)