Analysis: 33 female MKs expected in next Knesset, but coalition makeup determines representation gap

An analysis by the 5050 Initiative, based on an average of polls as of October 16, 2026, predicts 33 female Knesset members in the next parliament, a new record. The central gap: a coalition of the current bloc would include only 9 women, while a coalition of the change bloc would include 24 women, another record. The article compares Israel to the global average and notes the absence of a gender quota in law.

An analysis by the 5050 Initiative, based on an average of polls as of October 16, 2026, predicts that 33 female Knesset members will serve in the next Knesset, a new record. The article presents the dramatic gap between two coalition possibilities: if the current coalition bloc forms the government, only 9 women will serve; in contrast, if the change bloc forms the government, 24 women will serve, more than ever before. The article reviews the history of women's representation in the Knesset, from a peak of 45 women in the 24th Knesset to 32 in the current one, and compares Israel to countries worldwide, where it ranks 92nd with 25.8% representation, compared to the global average of 27.5%. It also mentions the absence of a gender quota in Israeli law, and a quote from Yael Yechieli, founder of the 5050 Initiative, calls on the public to choose a government that includes partnership between men and women.