Israel 1959 legislative election

What was the result of the 1959 legislative election in Israel?

Alignment / Labor won 47 of 120 seats with 38.2% of the vote. 81.6% of registered voters cast a ballot.

Israel
Held: Tuesday 3 November 1959
Final result
ParlGov, read 5 October 2026

Which party won the most seats?

Final results from ParlGov, read 5 October 2026: Alignment / Labor won 47 of 120 seats with 38.2% of the vote; 81.6% of registered voters cast a ballot, down 1.2 points on 1955.

SeatsVote share

Alignment / Labor 47 +7 seats 38.2% +6.0 points
Herut 17 +2 seats 13.5% +0.9 points
National Religious Party / The Jewish Home 12 +1 seat 9.9% +0.8 points
Mapam 9 0 seats 7.2% −0.1 points
General Zionists 8 −5 seats 6.2% −4.0 points
Ahdut HaAvoda 7 −3 seats 6.0% −2.2 points
Religious Torah Front 6 0 seats 4.7% 0.0 points
Progressive Party 6 +1 seat 4.6% +0.2 points
Communist Party / Moked / Sheli 3 −3 seats 2.8% −1.7 points
Progress and Development 2 1.3%
Cooperation and Brotherhood 2 1.1%
Agriculture and Development 1 0 seats 1.1% 0.0 points

Seats won
Change on the previous election at the right
Share of the vote
Share at the previous election
Change in points at the right

Changes are against the Israel 1955 legislative election, party by party.

61 for a majority

61 of 120 seats make a majority

Key numbers

38.2%
Share of the vote won by Alignment / Labor
Alignment / Labor won 47 of 120 seats. A majority needs 61.
+7 seats
Seats gained by Alignment / Labor
The largest gain in seats compared with 1955. General Zionists lost 5 seats.
81.6%
Voter turnout
Down 1.2 points on 1955.

Seats and votes by party

Party	Seats	± seats	%	± points	Votes
Alignment / Labor	47	+7	38.2	+6.0	370,585
Herut	17	+2	13.5	+0.9	130,515
National Religious Party / The Jewish Home	12	+1	9.9	+0.8	95,581
Mapam	9	0	7.2	−0.1	69,468
General Zionists	8	−5	6.2	−4.0	59,700
Ahdut HaAvoda	7	−3	6.0	−2.2	58,043
Religious Torah Frontwith Agudat Yisrael and Poalei Agudat Yisrael	6	0	4.7	0.0	45,569
Progressive Party	6	+1	4.6	+0.2	44,889
Communist Party / Moked / Sheli	3	−3	2.8	−1.7	27,374
Progress and Development	2		1.3		12,347
Cooperation and Brotherhood	2		1.1		11,104
Agriculture and Development	1	0	1.1	0.0	10,902
Largest party without seats	0		0.8		8,199

± is the change against the Israel 1955 legislative election, party by party.

Votes by party

Alignment / Labor 370,585
Herut 130,515
National Religious Party / The Jewish Home 95,581
Mapam 69,468
General Zionists 59,700
Ahdut HaAvoda 58,043
Religious Torah Front 45,569
Progressive Party 44,889
Communist Party / Moked / Sheli 27,374
Progress and Development 12,347
Cooperation and Brotherhood 11,104
Agriculture and Development 10,902
Largest party without seats 8,199

ParlGov lists parties with at least 1 percent of the vote or 2 seats, so the rows do not add up to the valid votes.

ParlGov counts an alliance's votes and seats under its first party: such a row names the allies it counts.

How many people voted?

81.6% of the 1,218,483 registered voters cast a ballot (994,306 ballots), down 1.2 points on 1955. 969,337 of them were valid votes.

How do the votes compare with the seats?

Alignment / Labor38.2% of votes39.2% of seats
Herut13.5% of votes14.2% of seats
National Religious Party / The Jewish Home9.9% of votes10.0% of seats
Mapam7.2% of votes7.5% of seats
General Zionists6.2% of votes6.7% of seats
Ahdut HaAvoda6.0% of votes5.8% of seats
Religious Torah Front4.7% of votes5.0% of seats
Progressive Party4.6% of votes5.0% of seats
Communist Party / Moked / Sheli2.8% of votes2.5% of seats
Progress and Development1.3% of votes1.7% of seats
Cooperation and Brotherhood1.1% of votes1.7% of seats
Agriculture and Development1.1% of votes0.8% of seats

Each party's share of the vote (outlined) and of the seats (filled)

The Gallagher index of disproportionality is 1.3 (0 when seats follow votes exactly); the effective number of parties is 5.2 by votes and 4.9 by seats; Alignment / Labor led Herut by 24.7 points of the vote.

Time and source Data as of 5 October 2026