Elections for the 18th Knesset were held in
Israel on 10 February 2009. These elections became necessary due to the resignation of
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as leader of the
Kadima party, and the failure of his successor,
Tzipi Livni, to form a
coalition government. Had Olmert remained in office or had Livni formed a coalition government, the elections would have been scheduled for 2010 instead.