| Previous election | 1959 |
|---|---|
| Next election | 1965 |
| Election date | 15 August 1961 |
| Turnout | 81.57% ( 0.03 pp) |
| Country | Israel |
| Party 1 | Mapai |
| Leader 1 | David Ben-Gurion |
| Seats 1 | 42 |
| Last election 1 | 47 |
| Percentage 1 | 34.69 |
| Party 2 | Herut |
| Leader 2 | Menachem Begin |
| Seats 2 | 17 |
| Last election 2 | 17 |
| Percentage 2 | 13.76 |
| Party 3 | Israeli Liberal Party |
| Leader 3 | Pinchas Rosen |
| Seats 3 | 17 |
| Last election 3 | 14 |
| Percentage 3 | 13.63 |
| Party 4 | National Religious Party |
| Leader 4 | Haim-Moshe Shapira |
| Seats 4 | 12 |
| Last election 4 | 12 |
| Percentage 4 | 9.81 |
| Party 5 | Mapam |
| Leader 5 | Meir Ya'ari |
| Seats 5 | 9 |
| Last election 5 | 9 |
| Percentage 5 | 7.51 |
| Party 6 | Ahdut HaAvoda |
| Leader 6 | Yisrael Galili |
| Seats 6 | 8 |
| Last election 6 | 7 |
| Percentage 6 | 6.57 |
| Party 7 | Maki (historical political party) |
| Leader 7 | Shmuel Mikunis |
| Seats 7 | 5 |
| Last election 7 | 3 |
| Percentage 7 | 4.18 |
| Party 8 | Agudat Yisrael |
| Leader 8 | Yitzhak-Meir Levin |
| Seats 8 | 4 |
| Last election 8 | 3 |
| Percentage 8 | 3.69 |
| Party 9 | Poalei Agudat Yisrael |
| Leader 9 | Kalman Kahana |
| Seats 9 | 2 |
| Last election 9 | 3 |
| Percentage 9 | 1.93 |
| Party 10 | Cooperation and Brotherhood |
| Leader 10 | Diyab Obeid |
| Seats 10 | 2 |
| Last election 10 | 2 |
| Percentage 10 | 1.92 |
| Party 11 | Progress and Development |
| Leader 11 | Ahmed A-Dahar |
| Seats 11 | 2 |
| Last election 11 | 2 |
| Percentage 11 | 1.59 |
| Before election | David Ben-Gurion |
| Before party | Mapai |
| After election | David Ben-Gurion |
| After party | Mapai |
Elections for the fifth Knesset were held in Israel on 15 August 1961. Voter turnout was 81.6%.[1]
Parliament factions
The table below lists the parliamentary factions represented in the 4th Knesset.
Aftermath
During the Knesset term, eight MKs broke away from Mapai to establish Rafi and two MKs left Maki to establish Rakah. Herut and the Liberal Party merged to form Gahal. Seven Liberal Party members unhappy with the decision (largely former Progressive Party members) broke away to form the Independent Liberals.
Tenth government
The fifth Knesset started with David Ben-Gurion's Mapai party forming the tenth government on 2 November 1961. His coalition included the National Religious Party, Ahdut HaAvoda, Agudat Israel Workers, Cooperation and Brotherhood and Progress and Development, and had 13 ministers. Kadish Luz of Mapai was appointed Knesset Speaker. The government collapsed when Ben-Gurion resigned on 16 June 1963 citing personal reasons, but in reality was annoyed at a perceived lack of support from his colleagues. He later broke away from Mapai with several colleagues to form Rafi.
Eleventh government
Levi Eshkol took over Mapai and formed the eleventh government on 26 June 1963 with the same coalition partners as previously, but one more minister. The government resigned on 10 December 1964 when Ben-Gurion demanded that members of the Supreme Court investigate the Lavon Affair.
Twelfth government
Eshkol formed the twelfth government a week later on 22 December 1964 with the same coalition partners and ministers as previously.
The fifth Knesset was notable for the coalescing of the two major right-wing parties (Herut and the Liberal Party) to form an electoral block (Gahal) capable of threatening Mapai's hegemony in Israeli politics. Gahal, which by then had become Likud, finally overtook Mapai (which had merged into the Alignment) in the 1977 elections.
Notes
- ^ Agudat Yisrael and PAI ran as a joint list called Religious Torah Front.
References
- ^ Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume I, p124 ISBN 0-19-924958-X
External links
- Historical overview of the Fifth Knesset Knesset website
- Election results Knesset website
- The Fifth Knesset Knesset website