UPDATE – Israelis head to polls in parliamentary elections
- More than 7.3 million eligible voters to cast ballots at 12,018 polling stations nationwide
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- More than 7.3 million eligible voters to cast ballots at 12,018 polling stations nationwide
UPDATES WITH MORE DETAILS
By Sahin Demir and Abdel Raouf Arnaout
ISTANBUL / JERUSALEM (AA) – Voting began Tuesday in Israel’s parliamentary elections, with more than 7.3 million people eligible to cast ballots to elect the 120-member Knesset.
Polling stations opened at 7 am local time (0500GMT) and are scheduled to close at 10 pm (2000GMT), according to Israel’s Central Elections Committee.
A total of 7,331,981 Israelis are eligible to vote in the elections, which are being held amid intense competition between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing bloc and the opposition bloc led by former army chief Gadi Eisenkot.
A total of 12,018 polling stations and approximately 18,000 ballot boxes have been prepared nationwide, with around 100,000 election workers deployed.
Thirty-seven parties and electoral lists are competing in the elections, with at least 61 seats required to form a governing coalition.
Recent opinion polls suggest that neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition parties may secure the 61 seats needed to form a government.
Israeli television networks expect a high voter turnout amid the closely contested election.
The main contenders include Netanyahu’s Likud party, Eisenkot’s Yashar party and the Together alliance led by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
Other prominent parties include the Democrats led by Yair Golan, Yisrael Beiteinu, headed by Avigdor Lieberman, and Jewish Power, led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Arab parties include the Joint List headed by Yousef Jabareen and the United Arab List (Ra’am) led by Mansour Abbas.
The elections are the first in Israel since 1988 to be held on schedule following the completion of a full four-year parliamentary term.
Under Israeli law, parliamentary elections are held every four years, although the Knesset can dissolve itself earlier through legislation supported by at least 61 members.
Early elections can also be triggered by a failure to form a government or approve the state budget within the legally prescribed period.
The elections represent Israel’s first general vote since the start of its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023.
The vote also comes amid Israel’s military offensives against Lebanon, Iran and Yemen, as well as its continued occupation of parts of Syria, Lebanon and Gaza and escalating attacks by illegal Israeli occupiers in the occupied West Bank.
Netanyahu faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) over war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Israel’s war on Gaza.
The elections are also seen as crucial for the political future of Netanyahu, 76, who is standing trial on corruption charges, including bribery, fraud and breach of trust, which could result in imprisonment if convicted.
Netanyahu has headed Israel’s current right-wing government since late December 2022, which has been described as the most far-right in the country’s history.
- Tight elections
According to the prime minister’s office, Netanyahu is expected to cast his ballot Tuesday afternoon at a school in West Jerusalem.
Eisenkot is also scheduled to vote at a school in the central Israeli city of Herzliya after visiting several polling stations.
Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state despite UN resolutions supporting a two-state solution.
Vote counting will begin after polling stations close at 10 pm local time (2000GMT), when Israeli television channels are expected to release exit polls.
Initial results are expected to emerge overnight, while the official results are scheduled to be published by Nov. 4, according to Israel’s Central Elections Committee.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog is expected to begin consultations with parties elected to the Knesset a week after the elections to determine which lawmaker will be tasked with forming the next government.
Meanwhile, Israeli police announced the deployment of 20,000 officers across the country to maintain public order, protect voters and ensure the integrity of the electoral process.
Police said uniformed and undercover officers would be stationed at thousands of polling locations and surrounding areas to prevent disruptions and ensure voting proceeds in accordance with the law.
Separately, 4,218 Israelis cast their ballots during early voting at 101 polling stations established at 99 diplomatic missions abroad on Oct. 15–16, representing 86.7% of the 4,863 eligible overseas voters, according to Israel’s Central Elections Committee.
Şahin Demir