In Israel, the prime minister is not elected directly by voters. People vote for parties in Knesset elections, and then the president asks the party leader most likely to build a majority coalition to form a government.

How it works

  • Citizens vote for party lists , not for a prime minister candidate.
  • The 120 Knesset seats are divided by proportional representation.
  • After the election, the president consults party leaders and gives the job of forming a government to the Knesset member most likely to win support from a majority.
  • That candidate usually has about 42 days to assemble a coalition and get Knesset approval.
  • If they fail, another candidate may get a chance, or new elections can be held.

Simple example

If Party A wins the most seats but only 35 out of 120, its leader still usually needs to strike deals with other parties to reach 61 seats for a majority. That coalition-building step is what effectively decides who becomes prime minister.

Main point

So the prime minister is chosen through a parliamentary process , not a direct popular vote: voters pick parties, and coalition politics decides the leader.

TL;DR

Israelis vote for parties, the president nominates the person most likely to command a Knesset majority, and that person becomes prime minister only after forming a coalition and winning legislative approval.