UPDATE - Israel enters election silence period ahead of Tuesday's parliamentary vote
- Campaign restrictions take effect at 7 pm Monday as more than 7.3 million voters prepare to elect 120-member Knesset
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- Campaign restrictions take effect at 7 pm Monday as more than 7.3 million voters prepare to elect 120-member Knesset
UPDATES WITH DETAILS, REVISES DECK
By Zein Khalil and Rania Abushamala
JERUSALEM / ISTANBUL (AA) - Israel entered an election silence period Monday ahead of Tuesday's parliamentary elections, with restrictions on campaign activities taking effect at 7 pm local time (1700GMT), an Anadolu correspondent reported.
Under Article 129 of the Knesset Elections Law, campaigning at gatherings and marches, through loudspeakers, and on radio and television is prohibited from 7 pm on the eve of the election and throughout polling day, according to the Knesset's official website.
Most polling stations will open at 7 am (0500GMT) Tuesday and close at 10 pm (2000GMT). In communities with no more than 350 eligible voters, voting will take place from 8 am (0600GMT) to 8 pm (1800GMT).
Vote counting will begin after polling stations close at 10 pm, when Israeli media outlets are also expected to release exit poll results, according to Israel's Channel 12.
Under Article 11 of the Basic Law: The Knesset, the Central Elections Committee has eight days after election day to publish the official results in the official gazette, setting a deadline of Nov. 4.
- More than 7.3 million eligible voters
A total of 37 parties and electoral alliances are contesting seats in the 120-member Knesset, with 13 projected to secure parliamentary representation.
The main contenders include Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party and Yashar, which is contesting its first election under former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.
Opinion polls suggest Yashar could emerge as the largest party, challenging years of Likud dominance.
According to the Central Elections Committee, 7,331,981 Israelis are eligible to vote in elections for the 26th Knesset.
Voting will take place at 12,018 polling stations, with approximately 18,000 ballot boxes deployed nationwide and around 100,000 personnel working on election day.
Of the polling stations, 6,209 will be accessible to people with disabilities.
Twenty regional election committees will oversee preparations and voting operations in their respective jurisdictions.
To facilitate access to polling stations, 660 intercity public transport routes and all Israel Railways services will operate free of charge on election day, according to the committee.
- Netanyahu faces challenge from Eisenkot
Forming a government requires the confidence of at least 61 lawmakers in the 120-seat Knesset.
The previous Knesset dissolved on July 17, paving the way for the Oct. 27 election.
Netanyahu has led the current government since December 2022, heading a coalition widely described as the most right-wing in Israel's history.
He is standing trial on corruption charges, which he denies.
The International Criminal Court has also issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Gaza Strip.
Rania R.a. Abushamala