On Tuesday, Israel experienced a historic election day, with voter turnout in the initial hours reaching levels not seen in 45 years. This milestone was confirmed by the Israeli Central Election Commission and is widely considered a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership amid three years of conflict.
By 10:00 AM local time, 16.68% of the electorate—over 1.2 million out of 7.33 million registered voters—had cast their ballots, marking the highest early turnout since 1981, according to live updates from CNN and reports from EFE.
As of 6:00 PM local time, participation soared to 66.7%, significantly surpassing the turnout at the same hour in the 2022 elections, and achieving the highest rate in the nation's history, as reported by the Election Commission. More than 4.8 million Israelis had voted before polling stations closed at 10:00 PM local time.
This election marks the first since the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, which resulted in around 1,200 Israeli deaths and the capture of over 250 hostages, sparking a war that expanded with escalations against Lebanon and Iran.
Netanyahu cast his vote in West Jerusalem alongside his wife Sara, while his main opponent, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, voted in Herzliya, north of Tel Aviv, with his wife Hana.
"I urge everyone to come out, vote, and fulfill your civic duty; only a broad and significant victory over Likud will send Netanyahu home," Eisenkot stated at the polling station.
Polls indicate a fiercely contested race. Projections from the three major television networks, released three days prior to the election, predicted Eisenkot's bloc would secure between 52 and 56 seats, compared to about 50 for Netanyahu's bloc, both falling short of the 61-seat majority needed to govern in the 120-member Knesset.
The support of Arab parties—expected to win between 14 and 16 seats according to surveys—could prove crucial for the opposition bloc.
The day was not without incidents. Eisenkot’s party, Yashar!, accused opponents of "deliberately tampering" with their ballots nationwide and announced plans to file a formal complaint with the Election Commission. An ultra-nationalist supporter of National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir allegedly assaulted a volunteer from the Democrats party in Holon "until he lost consciousness," as reported in a party statement.
Additionally, Israeli police arrested a man in his twenties carrying a concealed knife near an event for Democrats’ leader Yair Golan at Tel Aviv's Mesila Park. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers set fire to three vehicles in the village of Umm Safa, northwest of Ramallah.
Over 67,000 Israelis living abroad returned to vote, with most coming from Europe and the United States, facilitated by the Fly&Vote initiative of the NGO AID Coalition.
Dean Livne, spokesperson for the Election Commission, mentioned at a press conference that fewer incidents were reported during the early hours compared to previous elections, although three individuals were detained for alleged electoral bribery linked to the Islamist party Raam, with confiscated envelopes containing money.
The final results and the commencement of coalition negotiations—which historically can last weeks or months—will be disclosed following the closure of polling stations at 10:00 PM local time.
Key Insights into Israel's Historic Election Turnout
What was the voter turnout in Israel's recent election?
The voter turnout reached 66.7% by 6:00 PM local time, the highest in the country's history.
Why is this election considered significant for Benjamin Netanyahu?
The election is seen as a referendum on Netanyahu's leadership following years of conflict and recent escalations after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks.
How did the election impact Israeli politics?
With a highly competitive race between Netanyahu's bloc and Eisenkot's, the election highlighted the crucial role of Arab parties in forming a potential opposition coalition.
What incidents occurred during the election day?
The day saw various incidents, including accusations of ballot tampering and an assault on a political volunteer, alongside the arrest of a man carrying a concealed weapon.