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Israel
Women in decision-making positions
17%
Members of local deliberative bodies are women (647 elected women)
No woman is Head of State or Government
24%
Parliamentarians are women
17%
Ministers are women

Government organization

Spheres of government

Israel is a unitary republic with two spheres of government: central and local.

One tier of central government and one tier of local government composed of city, local, and regional councils.

  • Head of State: The President of the State is elected by the Knesset.
  • Head of Government: The Prime Minister is a member of the Knesset is selected by the President of the State, after consultation with and a vote of confidence by the Knesset.
  • Legislative body: The Knesset is a unicameral legislature whose members are directly elected by voters.
  • Executive body: The Government is composed of the Prime Minister and ministers chosen by the Prime Minister to be appointed after a vote of confidence by the Knesset.

  • Organization: Local government is organized into one tier, consisting of 80 city councils (in large municipalities), 121 local councils (in smaller municipalities), and 54 regional councils (in rural settlements).
  • Competencies: Local government possesses legal personality. It is responsible for making by-laws and regulations, acquiring property, making contracts, establishing committees, paying salaries, borrowing money, and having its own budget.
  • Ministerial oversight: Ministry of Interior

Overview of local government

Local government composition

Deliberative body: The city/local/regional council is composed of 9-31 elected members. A mayor (in municipalities) or a chairperson (in  rural areas) is elected to preside over the council; the mayor/chairperson is also vested with executive powers. A city council with more than 21 elected members may elect a separate chairperson by and from amongst its members (with approval of the mayor) to preside over it; the city council chairperson would not be vested with executive powers.

Executive body: The mayor (in municipalities) or chairperson (in towns and rural areas) is the executive of the local government.

Local government elections

Electoral system for local deliberative bodies: proportional representation (closed list)

  • A closed party-list proportional electoral system is used for local deliberative body elections. The entire local government area serves as a single electoral district for the purpose of local deliberative body elections. Where only one candidates' list has been approved, the election officer declares such number of candidates from that list - taken in the order in which the names appear - as is equal to the number of members of the council to be elected to be the persons elected as members of the council. Where multiple candidates’ lists have been approved, and a list of candidates has obtained seats, a corresponding number of persons whose names appear successively on that list, starting at the top, shall become members of the council. For lists to be eligible to obtain seats, they must have gathered no less that 75 per cent of the quota.

Electoral system for mayors/chairpersons: majority/plurality

  • The mayor/chairperson is directly elected by voters using a separate ballot from the local deliberative body election. Political parties propose candidates; the candidate receiving the most votes, and at least 40% of the total vote, is elected. The mayor/chairperson may be a member of the council. If that is not the case, he or she will be a member of the council for all intents and purposes and will be added to the number of members determined for that council as long as he serves as the head of the council.

Sources: Local Authorities Election Law, 1965 (amended through 2020) articles 46, 67 and 69; Head of the Local Authority Election Law, 1975 (amended through 2020), article 9

  • Gender quotas: No
  • Additional quotas: No

  • Term length: 5 years
  • Last local elections: 2018
  • Next local elections: 2023

Ministry of Interior

National legal framework on local government

  • 13 Basic Laws of the state of Israel, adopted between 1958-2018 (amended through 2022);
  • Municipalities Ordinance, 2007 (amended through 2022);
  • Date of Regional Council Elections Law, 1994 (amended through 2018);
  • Head of the Regional Council Election Law, 1988 (amended through 2018);
  • Local Council Ordinance, 1965 (amended through 2022);
  • Head of the Local Authority Election Law, 1975 (amended through 2020);
  • Local Authorities Election Law, 1965 (amended through 2020).

There are no constitutional provisions that establish local government in Israel.

The key pieces of legislation which regulate local government are the Municipalities Ordinance of 2007 and the Local Council Ordinance of 1965.

Sources:

1. UN Women: Data on share of women in local government as of 1 January 2025.

2. UN Women: Information on Head of State and Government as of 1 December 2025.

3. Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU): Data on share of women in the single/lower chamber of parliament as of 1 January 2025.

4. UN Women: Data on share of women Cabinet ministers as of 1 January 2025.

5. Information on local government organization as of 1 January 2023.