Fifteen hours to cast millions of ballots. Weeks, perhaps months, to determine who will govern. In Israeli politics, Election Day is only the beginning.
At Gann, the election was the focus of a series of activities and classroom discussions throughout the day. Israeli news played in the flag-filled lobby while students navigated mock ballots, tested their political knowledge, and tackled questions about electoral thresholds and coalition building. There was candy for correct answers, falafel for lunch, and no shortage of challenging questions.
In one classroom discussion, Dr. Yoni Michanie took students beyond the ballot count to examine how parties form a governing coalition. The process involves more than securing enough seats. Party leaders also negotiate who will hold powerful positions, including defense minister and foreign minister. “This is really when all the political negotiation happens,” Yoni explained.
Students had plenty of questions of their own. Who runs the country while coalition talks drag on? What happens if there’s a major security crisis? And could parties with dramatically different political views manage to govern together?
Tuesday’s programming was part of a much longer conversation. In the weeks leading up to the election, students explored the parties, the parliamentary system, and the issues shaping Israel’s first national election since October 7, 2023. Last week, 60 students in the Hebrew Scholar Program took on the role of educators themselves, creating posters to help classmates make sense of Israel’s political landscape.
Other classes drew on firsthand accounts, video footage, and perspectives from Gann alumni living in Israel, adding a personal dimension to the political issues students had been studying. While the makeup of Israel’s next government remains uncertain, Gann students have a better understanding of the questions, compromises, and competing interests that will shape what happens next.