On Tuesday, Israelis went to the polls, and voter participation in this election reached the highest level in decades. This election is the first voting since the October 7, 2023 attack, which challenged a deeply divided society and brought an assessment of Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's long-serving right-wing Prime Minister.
Netanyahu's Concerns About Arab Participation
After voting in Jerusalem, Benjamin Netanyahu expressed concern over the high voter turnout among Israel's Arab minority and warned that there are efforts to "steal the election." His remarks indicate the potential for a prolonged conflict ahead.
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The voter turnout in the first five hours of the election was 31.5%, the highest level at this stage in nearly 50 years. This election is held against the backdrop of three years of regional multilateral wars that began on October 7, raising questions about accountability and security at the center of this campaign.
Close Competition Between Netanyahu and Eisenkot
Recent polls indicate that Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving Prime Minister, is in a close race with his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot. Eisenkot, a political newcomer and former army chief, is known for his moderate approach as a counterpoint to Netanyahu. Before the voting, he paid tribute at the grave of his son Gal, who lost his life in the Gaza war, and urged Israelis to change "the worst government since the founding of the country."
Approximately 7.3 million people are eligible to vote, and it is estimated that tens of thousands of Israelis from abroad have returned to the country to participate in this crucial election. Netanyahu, 77, who has served as Prime Minister for over 19 years, is trying to rally voter support by stoking fears of a Palestinian state.
In Tel Aviv, the Democrats party, part of Eisenkot's coalition, announced that police arrested an armed man with a knife who was threateningly approaching its leader, Yair Golan. Golan stated that this incident was a result of Netanyahu's "toxic machine."
Final results may take several days, and it is unlikely that any party will come close to the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-member parliament. Forming any coalition could take weeks or months, and if negotiations fail, new elections may be on the horizon.
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