1925 Assembly of Representatives election

1925 Assembly of Representatives election

6 December 1925
221 seats in the Assembly of Representatives
Turnout	57%
Party Leader Seats Ahdut HaAvoda David Ben-Gurion 54 Hapoel Hatzair Yosef Sprinzak 30 Others 20 HaSephardim 19 Hatzohar Ze'ev Jabotinsky 15 Hebrew Women's Association Beba Idelson 13 Agricultural Bloc 13 Democrat's Association 12 Mizrachi Yehuda Leib Maimon 7 Centre List 6 National Citizens 6 Ma'amad Hapoalim 6 Hapoel HaMizrachi 6 Hapoel HaMizrachi HaMeuhad 4 Polish List 4 Valley Kibbutzim List 2 Safed Municipality List 2 HaMerkaz HaHakla'i 1 Galilee Farmers Association 1 Eastern Farmers Association 1 Georgian's List 1 Hebrew Women's Popular list 1 Givat HaRambam list 1 Young Mizrachi List 1 Craftsmen's Centre 1 Bnei Brak Residents' List 1 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. President of the Jewish National Council before President of the Jewish National Council after David Yellin Independent David Yellin Independent

Elections to the Assembly of Representatives in Mandatory Palestine were held on 6 December 1925, electing the legislature of the Yishuv. Around half the votes went to parties associated with trade unions.[1] Ahdut HaAvoda remained the largest party in the Assembly.

Electoral system

Following the 1920 elections, debate continued on the issue of women's suffrage.[2] In 1923 Mizrachi called for a men-only referendum on whether women should be entitled to vote, and threatened to withdraw from the Yishuv if one was not held.[2] The Jewish National Council agreed to hold one on 8 November 1925, but with female participation.[2] This led to Agudat Yisrael calling for a boycott.[2] In response, Mizrachi and the Jewish National Council agreed to cancel the referendum.[2]

The number of eligible voters rose from around 26,000 to 64,764.[3][4] However, turnout was only around 57%.[4] This was put down to an Agudat Yisrael boycott, several delays in holding the elections, and the unfamiliarity of some women with voting.[4]

The number of seats was reduced from 314 to 221.[3][4]

Results

Party		Votes	%	Seats	+/–
	Ahdut HaAvoda	8,834		54	–16
	Hapoel Hatzair	5,337		30	–11
	HaSephardim			19	–35
	Revisionists			15	New
	Hebrew Women's Association			13	New
	Agricultural Bloc			9	New
	Democrat's Association			9	New
	Mizrachi			7	–2
	Centre List			6	New
	National Citizens			6	New
	Ma'amad Hapoalim	1,028		6	New
	Hapoel HaMizrachi			6	New
	Hapoel HaMizrachi HaMeuhad			4	New
	Polish Immigrants List			4	New
	Valley Kibbutzim List			2	New
	Safed Municipality List			2	New
	HaMerkaz HaHakla'i			1	New
	Galilee Farmers Association			1	New
	Eastern Farmers Association			1	New
	Georgian's List			1	New
	Hebrew Women's Popular list			1	New
	Givat HaRambam list			1	New
	Young Mizrachi List			1	–1
	Craftsmen's Centre			1	–5
	Bnei Brak Residents' List			1	New
	Others			20	–
Total				221	–93
Total votes		35,987	–
Registered voters/turnout		64,764	55.57
Source: Mackie & Rose[5]

References

1. "Palestine Parties" The Times, 18 December 1925, p13, Issue 44148
2. Zalman Abramov (1976) Perpetual dilemma: Jewish religion in the Jewish State Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press, p108
3. Abramov, p90
4. Abramov, p109
5. Thomas T Mackie & Richard Rose (1991) The International Almanac of Electoral History, Macmillan, p243 (vote figures)