The 2024 municipal elections in Israel took place on 27 February 2024 amidst the ongoing Gaza war. In accordance with changes made in 2018, election day will be a paid day off work. All municipalities, local councils and regional councils will be up for election, as will their leaders. Top-two runoffs will be held in all localities where no leadership candidate won 40% or more of the vote in the first round.
Voters in municipalities and local councils choose their leader and council in two separate ballots that are colored yellow and white respectively. Voters in regional councils also vote for a local committee.
Postponements The elections were originally scheduled for 31 October 2023, but were initially postponed until 30 January 2024 by the Knesset due to the Gaza war, in a law that allowed one more postponement to 27 February, subject to 80 Knesset members additional approval. Finance Minister and leader of the Religious Zionist Party Bezalel Smotrich requested that the elections be further postponed due to the number of candidates from his party that are serving in the IDF Reserves. On 1 January 2024, the Knesset postponed the elections until 27 February.
Background and preparatory measures The elections will primarily concern local and national issues, and most lists set to compete will be local.
The elections were preceded by a period of political deadlock which began in 2019 and resulted in five legislative elections over the course of three years. Several new political parties have formed since the 2018 elections, such as National Unity, while existing parties with local affiliates have either lost their seats in the Knesset (such as the Jewish Home, Meretz and the Green Party), or dissolved entirely (such as Kulanu).
The Israeli Police have prepared to protect candidates, mostly from Arab localities, who are being threatened by criminal organizations.
Municipal lists are to be submitted between 27 and 28 September 2023.
Regional councils As of May 2022, there are 54 regional councils in Israel. Voters in regional councils elect two different levels of leadership with two different ballots. One for the council's leader and one for the council's members. In some regional councils, voters also elect the members of their local committee.
A Al-Batuf Al-Batuf Regional Council is currently led by Ahed Rahal, who was first elected in 2018.
Al-Kasom Al-Kasom Regional Council is led by Salama El Atrash, who was first elected via runoff in 2018.
Alona Alona Regional Council is led by Aryeh Sharon, who assumed office in 1999.
B Be'er Tuvia Be'er Tuvia Regional Council is led by Kobi Avivi, who was first elected in 2018. The council's previous leader, Dror Shor, has announced his intention to challenge Avivi in the election.
Bik'at HaYarden Bik'at HaYarden Regional Council is led by David Elhayani, who became its leader in 2009. Bnei Shimon Bnei Shimon Regional Council is led by Nir Zamir, who was first elected in 2018.
Brenner Brenner Regional Council is led by Doron Shidlov, who was first elected in 2012. He was unopposed for re-election in 2018.
Bustan al-Marj Bustan al-Marj Regional Council is led by Abd Ak-Kharim Zoabi, who was first elected via runoff in 2018.
C Central Arava Central Arava Regional Council is led by Meir Zur, who became the council's leader on 6 April 2021 following the resignation of his predecessor, Eyal Blum.
D Drom HaSharon Drom HaSharon Regional Council is led by Oshrat Gani Gonen, who was first elected in 2018.
E Emek HaMaayanot Emek HaMaayanot Regional Council is led by Yoram Karin, who became its leader in 2009.
Emek HaYarden Emek HaYarden Regional Council is led by Idan Greenbaum, who was first elected in a special election in 2016.
Eshkol Eshkol Regional Council is led by Gadi Yarkoni, who was first elected in a special election held in June 2015.
G Gan Raveh Gan Raveh Regional Council is led by Shlomo Elimelech, who was first elected in 1991.
Gederot Gederot Regional Council is led by Yossi Kendelsein.
Gezer Gezer Regional Council is led by Rotem Yadlin, who was first elected in 2018.
Gilboa Gilboa Regional Council is led by Oved Nur, who was first elected via special election in 2015. Former Councillor Shanir Friedman has announced his intention to run for the council's leadership, as has Danny Atar, formerly the council's leader and a member of the Knesset.
Golan Golan Regional Council is led by Haim Rokach, who was first elected via runoff in 2018. The 2023 election will be the first to include the newly founded Trump Heights, which is part of the council's jurisdiction. Uri Kellner, a former deputy leader of the council, has announced his intention to run for its leadership.
Gush Etzion Gush Etzion Regional Council is led by Shlomo Ne'eman, who was first elected via special election in 2017. Ne'eman was re-elected via runoff in 2018.
H Har Hevron Har Hevron Regional Council is led by Yochai Damri, who was first elected in 2013. Damri announced in May 2023 that he will not seek re-election.
Hefer Valley Hefer Valley Regional Council is led by Galit Shaul, who was elected in 2018, defeating her predecessor, Rani Eidan.
Hevel Eilot Hevel Eilot Regional Council is led by Hanan Ginat who was first elected in a special election in June 2016. Ginat was re-elected unopposed in 2018.
Hevel Modi'in Hevel Modi'in Regional Council is led by Shimon Susan.
Hevel Yavne Hevel Yavne Regional Council is led by Moshe Liber, who was first elected in 2013.
Hof Ashkelon Hof Ashkelon Regional Council is led by Itamar Revivo, who was first elected via runoff in 2018.
Hof HaCarmel Hof HaCarmel Regional Council is led by Assif Izak, who was first elected in 2018.
Hof HaSharon Hof HaSharon Regional Council is led by Eliyahu Bracha, who was first elected via special election in 2009. Bracha was re-elected unopposed in 2018.
J Jezreel Valley Jezreel Valley Regional Council is led by Eyal Baser, who became its leader in 2006.
L Lakhish Lakhish Regional Council is led by Danny Moravia, who became its leader in 2004. Moravia announced in November 2022 that he won't seek re-election.
Lev HaSharon Lev HaSharon Regional Council is led by Amir Ritov, who became its leader in 2007.
Lower Galilee Lower Galilee Regional Council is led by Nitzan Peleg, who was first elected in 2018. Asher Cohen, who ran against Peleg in 2018, has expressed an interest in challenging Peleg in 2023.
M Ma'ale Yosef Ma'ale Yosef Regional Council is led by Shimon Guetta, who was first elected in December 2012. Guetta was re-elected for a second term in 2018.
Mateh Asher Mateh Asher Regional Council is led by Moshe Davidovich, who was first elected in 2018.
Mateh Binyamin Mateh Binyamin Regional Council is led by Israel Gantz, who was first elected in 2018.
Mateh Yehuda Mateh Yehuda Regional Council is led by Niv Vizel, who was first elected in 2018. In May 2022, Interior Minister Ayelet Shaked began the process of establishing a separate authority in Tzur Hadassah.
Megiddo Megiddo Regional Council is led by Itzik Kholavski, who is seeking a third term in office. Kholavski will be challenged by Ruti Baum and Nehamia Rievi.
Megilot Megilot Regional Council is led by Aryeh Cohen, who became its leader in 2015.
Menashe Menashe Regional Council is led by Ilan Sadeh, who became its leader in 1992. Sadeh was re-elected unopposed in 2018.
Merhavim Merhavim Regional Council is led by Shai Hajaj, who became its leader in 2012. Hajaj was re-elected unopposed in 2018.
Merom HaGalil Merom HaGalil Regional Council is led by Amit Sofer, was first elected in 2009.
Mevo'ot HaHermon Mevo'ot HaHermon Regional Council is led by Benny Ben-Muvhar, who became its leader in 2002.
Misgav Misgav Regional Council is led by Danny Avri, who became its leader in 2018.
N Nahal Sorek Nahal Sorek Regional Council is led by Shay Reichner, who was elected in a special election in October 2021 after his predecessor resigned to serve as head of the Israel Antiquities Authority.
Neve Midbar Neve Midbar Regional Council is led by Ibrahim Al-Huasla, who was first elected in the council's first ever election in 2016.
R Ramat HaNegev Ramat HaNegev Regional Council is led by Eran Doron, who became its leader in 2017.
S Sdot Dan Sdot Dan Regional Council is led by David Yifrach, who was first elected in 2013. Yifrach was re-elected unopposed in 2018.
Sdot Negev Sdot Negev Regional Council is led by Tamir Idan, who was first elected in 2012.
Sha'ar HaNegev Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council is led by Ofir Libstein, who was elected in 2018, defeating Nira Shpak, who later became a member of the Knesset for Yesh Atid. In September 2022, Shpak announced that she would not seek re-election to the Knesset, and would instead run for the council's leadership a second time. On 7 October 2023, Libstein was shot dead in the Kfar Aza massacre.
Shafir Shafir Regional Council is led by Adir Ne'eman, who was first elected in 2018.
Shomron Shomron Regional Council is led by Yossi Dagan, who was first elected in 2015 to replace Gershon Mesika. Dagan was re-elected in 2018.
In May 2022, two settlements within the council, Sha'arei Tikva and Etz Efraim, were merged into a single settlement, Sha'ar HaShomron.
T Tamar Tamar Regional Council is led by Nir Vagner, who was elected in a November 2019 special election to replace his predecessor.
U Upper Galilee Upper Galilee Regional Council is led by Giora Salz, who will not seek re-election in 2023.
Z Zevulun Zevulun Regional Council is led by Amos Netzer who was first elected via runoff in 2018.
Cities and local councils
Abu Ghosh Abu Ghosh is led by Salim Jaber, who is serving his fourth, nonconsecutive term. On 8 May 2022, Abu Ghosh's local council was dissolved after it failed to pass a budget, and was temporarily replaced with an Interior Ministry committee, the Ministry also held a hearing on removing Jaber from his post, but decided against it.
Abu Snan Abu Snan is led by Fauzi Mashlab, who was elected in 2018 via runoff.
Alfei Menashe Alfei Menashe is led by Shy Rosenzweig, who was first elected in 2018.
Ariel Ariel is led by Eliyau Shaviro, who became its mayor in March 2013 following the death of his predecessor, Ron Nachman.
Ashdod Ashdod is led by Yehiel Lasri, who was first elected in 2008.
Ashkelon Ashkelon is led by Tomer Glam, who became its acting mayor in 2017 and was elected to a full term in 2018.
Azor Azor is led by Aryeh Pechter, who became its leader in 2008.
Baqa al-Gharbiyye Baqa al-Gharbiyye held its municipal election in 2019, rather than in 2018. Rayyid Daka won the election via runoff.
Baqa al-Gharbiyye's council consists of 15 seats, presently held by eleven different parties. Daka was not elected to the council and is thus its sixteenth member.
Basma Basma is led by Reyad Kabha, who was elected in 2013. He previously led Basma from 2005 to 2009.
Basmat Tab'un Basmat Tab'un is led by Rayyid Zubidat, who was first elected in 2018 via runoff.
Bat Yam In 2017, Interior Minister Aryeh Deri made the decision to merge Bat Yam into Tel Aviv, which would have made the 2018 election Bat Yam's last. Deri reversed his decision in 2021, shortly before the end of his tenure as Interior Minister, due to a successful effort to reduce the city's deficit. In the 2018 election, Likud member Zvika Brot defeated incumbent Mayor Yossi Bachar via runoff. Former Mayor Shlomo Lahiani, who was removed from office in 2015 after being found guilty of Breach of Trust, is considered a potential candidate in 2023, while Bachar has announced his intention to run.
Beersheba Beersheba is led by Ruvik Danilovich, who was first elected in 2008. In 2018, Danilovich was re-elected with 92% of the vote, while his party won 16 of the council's 31 seats.
Be'er Ya'akov