In 1996 in an attempt to lessen the power of the smaller parties, Israel moved to the direct election of the Prime Minister. However the parliamentary system remains, and the term of the directly elected Prime Minister can be ended by a vote of no-confidence in the Knesset. Events this fall actually illustrated all the complicated ins and outs of this new system. By resigning before an imminent vote of no- confidence Barak was able to run in new elections, without disbanding the Knesset. This meant that only those who were at present members of the Knesset could run, preventing him from having to face off against Benjamin Netanyahu in a reprise of the elections of two years ago.
Israeli elections are also different in their campaign flavor.
Israel is a much smaller and more connected country with a stronger tradition of party affiliation and a much higher rate of voter participation. In Israel there are no absentee ballots, except for military and consular personal. Everyone else has to return to Israel for their vote to be counted. Campaign advertising is limited by government regulations and comes on all in a block at a set time each evening. The current elections have been notable in the refusal of one candidate, Ariel Sharon, to debate his opponent, or even appear with him in any context.