Israelis vote. Governments form. Coalitions collapse. But how many of us actually understand the system that turns our votes into 120 seats in the Knesset?

This week on Boots on the Ground, I’m joined by Tamir Dortal, host of the Hebrew-language podcast Al HaMashmaut, for a deep dive into how Israeli elections actually work—and how the structure of the system shapes the politics we get.

We break down Israel’s unusual nationwide electoral system, party lists and primaries, the electoral threshold, surplus-vote agreements, and what happens to votes cast for parties that fail to cross the threshold. More importantly, we look at the incentives the system creates: Who are MKs really accountable to—the voters or the party leaders who determine their political futures?

Tamir argues that some of Israel’s biggest political problems may have less to do with the politicians themselves and more to do with the rules of the game. We discuss how the electoral threshold can give smaller coalition partners enormous leverage, why votes can effectively disappear, and whether lowering the threshold and reforming vote-sharing could produce broader, more stable governments where every vote matters.

And we finish with a provocative question: Could changing the mechanics of Israeli elections change Israeli politics itself?

What transforms a bullied Jewish teenager from Belgium into a U.S. Army Ranger, a Reserve Colonel, and ultimately one of the leaders building Israel's next generation of civilian defense?

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, I sit down with Colonel Yonatan Zagdanski, a former U.S. Army Ranger and Reserve Chaplain, to discuss his extraordinary journey—from the battlefields of the U.S. military to the front lines of Israel's security.

We discuss the lessons Ranger training teaches about leadership, discipline, and strength, the rise of antisemitism that shaped his worldview, why he chose to make aliyah, and how October 7 fundamentally changed Israel's security paradigm.

We also explore Citizen Defenders, the initiative helping communities across Israel build highly trained neighborhood response teams capable of defending their families until security forces arrive.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it.

Support Citizen Defenders

Citizen Defenders is an Israeli nonprofit initiative training licensed civilians to serve as immediate responders during terrorist attacks and other emergencies. Donations are tax-deductible through its U.S. 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor.

🇮🇱 Donate: https://secure.israelfriends.us/campaigns/citizen-project
🌐 Website: https://citizen-defenders.org
📧 Contact: Yonatan.z@citizen-defenders.org

Am Yisrael Chai!!

Israel's election campaign has entered an unusual quiet period. The polls are changing almost daily, new parties are emerging, and political alliances are still taking shape—but how much of it actually matters?

In this episode of Boots on the Ground, Ari and Shaun break down why current polling numbers may be telling us very little, examine the rise of Gadi Eisenkot's new party, and explain why the real campaign won't begin until party lists are finalized.

They also discuss the growing tensions in Judea and Samaria, the latest developments surrounding Iran and the United States, and why Israeli politics has become dominated by personalities instead of serious policy debates.

As election season heats up, the hosts argue that voters should demand something more than slogans and campaign promises: practical, achievable policies that address Israel's real strategic challenges.

Support Ari's work: If you believe in bringing practical, policy-driven leadership to the Jewish world, I'd be honored to have your vote as one of the Top 25 Young ViZIONaries, an initiative of Jewish National Fund-USA and The Jerusalem Post. It takes less than a minute to vote, and every vote makes a difference. Please vote and share with your friends and family:

https://top25vizionaries.com/vote/ari-kalker-mrw4lihl