The President (Peres) is directly elected, and will be the one to decide who gets the first shot at forming a government, Livni or Bibi. The heads of each of the parties are elected in a separate election, a few months ago. In todays election, voters vote for a party, though obviously the campaign revolves about individuals.

Thanks SJ, didn’t know how it worked.

A scorecard for anyone who needs one, more info at Israel Votes 2009

Political Parties & Platforms for 2009

Use this cool Electoral Compass to see who you should pick for Prime Minister given your stance on the issues.

Download the Party Platforms | View Current Political Posters (with Translation)

	Left	Left of Center	Centrist	Right of Center	Right
Major Parties		Labor	Kadima	Likud
Small Parties (Running for Re-election)	· Meretz · National Democratic (Balad) · Hadash · United Arab List		· Gil	· Shas · Torah & Shabat Judaism	· The Jewish Home · Yisrael Beitenu · National Union
New Parties
(Currently not in the Knesset).	The small parties are listed in alphabetical order according to their Hebrew name and the translation appears in parentheses. Acharayut (Responsibility) Aleh Yarok (Green Leaf) Brit Olam Lemaan Yeladeinu (Lasting Promise to Our Children) Da'am (Workers Party) HaTnuah HaYeroka/Meimad (The Green Movement/Meimad) HaYerokim (The Greens) HaYisraelim (The Israelis) Koach HaKesef (The Power of Money) Koach Lehaspiah (Power to Influence) Lazuz Leader Lev (Heart) Lochamei Hevrah Meuchadim (United Fighters for Society) Mahapach BeHinuch (Revolution in Education) Nitzoley Shoah Im Bogrey Aleh Yarok (Holocaust Survivors w/Green Leaf Alumni) Or (Light) Ra'ash (Men's Rights Party) Tzomet-HaTnuah LeZionut Mithadeshet (Junction - Movement for Renewed Zionism) Yisrael Hamithadeshet (Renewed Israel) Yisrael Hazaka (Strong Israel) Zabar (Youth of Israel)

The 17th Knesset [current government]- Seats Per Party

Political Party	# Knesset Seats
Kadima	29
Labor-Meimad	19
Likud	12
Shas	12
Yisrael Beitenu	11
Ichud Leumi - Mafdal	9
Gil Pensioners Party	7
Torah and Shabbat Judaism	6
Meretz	5
United Arab List - Arab Renewal	4
Hadash	3
National Democratic Assembly	3
Total	120