(CNN) -- Israel was founded on democratic principles with the Jewish state's declaration of independence in 1948 including a commitment to the "complete equality of social and political rights to all its inhabitants irrespective of religion, race or sex." It has remained a continuous democracy ever since.

The 120-seat Knesset is the Israeli seat of government.

The seat of Israeli government is the Knesset, the country's national parliament, located in Jerusalem, which Israel claims as its capital. The Knesset's 120 lawmakers are elected by universal suffrage with all Israeli citizens over the age of 18 entitled to vote.

Knesset seats are divided according to each party's proportion of the overall vote. But parties must poll at least two percent nationally to gain a seat.

Participation in elections, including among Arab Israelis who constitute around 20 percent of the population, has traditionally been high at around 80 percent turnout, according to Israeli government figures. Israel currently has around 5.3 million eligible voters.

Israel usually holds national elections every four years. But this year's poll on February 10 was called early -- less than three years since the last vote -- by Israeli President Shimon Peres following the resignation of prime minister Ehud Olmert amid allegations of corruption and his Kadima Party successor Tzipi Livni's failure to form a coalition. Olmert has continued to serve as caretaker prime minister in the interim.

Coalitions of two or more parties are common in Israel; in fact no party has ever won enough votes to form a government by itself. Those remaining outside the ruling coalition make up the opposition.

Thirty-four parties will participate in the 2009 elections, including major parties such as Kadima, Likud and Labor and also three Arab parties.

The task of forming and leading a government is charged by Israel's president to the Knesset member and party leader considered to have the best chance of forming a viable coalition.

The prime minister-designate then has 28 days, extendable by 14 days, to build a coalition commanding the support of at least 61 Knesset members.

Officials results are due to be published on February 18 with the new Knesset convening on March 2.
How many eligible voters are there in Israel? Number of eligible voters in Israel? How many eligible voters does Israel have? How many parties are bidding? When does Israel go to the polls? How many eligible voters are there? When does Isrel go to the nation polls for the election? How many parties are there? How many seats are there in the Knesset? What is Israel going to the polls for in February? What position did Ehud Olmert formerly have?
5.3 million 5.3 million 5.3 million Thirty-four February 10 5.3 million February 10 Thirty-four 120-seat national elections prime minister
question: How many eligible voters are there in Israel?, answer: 5.3 million | question: Number of eligible voters in Israel?, answer: 5.3 million | question: How many eligible voters does Israel have?, answer: 5.3 million | question: How many parties are bidding?, answer: Thirty-four | question: When does Israel go to the polls?, answer: February 10 | question: How many eligible voters are there?, answer: 5.3 million | question: When does Isrel go to the nation polls for the election?, answer: February 10 | question: How many parties are there?, answer: Thirty-four | question: How many seats are there in the Knesset?, answer: 120-seat | question: What is Israel going to the polls for in February?, answer: national elections | question: What position did Ehud Olmert formerly have?, answer: prime minister