Israel votes at highest rates since 1973 as Netanyahu urges base to the polls

Nearly 45 percent of Israeli voters had cast ballots by 2 p.m. Tuesday, setting the highest turnout figure for that time of day in five decades. The Central Elections Committee reported the number was six percentage points higher than the same time in the 2022 election. Weather conditions did not stop voters from forming long lines, despite rain and a flood warning in parts of the country.

The vote is widely viewed as a referendum on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s management of the conflict that began with the Hamas-led attacks on October 7, 2023. Mitchell Barak, a pollster and former aide to Netanyahu, noted the high participation rate. He suggested the turnout might exceed the historic peak from the 1973 war, asking observers to draw their own conclusions. Barak explained that high numbers benefit incumbent parties because the 3.25 percent threshold required to enter the Knesset becomes harder to meet as total votes increase.

Netanyahu addressed his supporters more than five hours after polls opened. He acknowledged high turnout among his left-wing opponents and among Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up about one-fifth of the population. He urged his base to follow suit, calling the moment "fateful." The prime minister had previously mobilized his supporters with the slogan "the right or Palestine," warning of high Arab voter participation.

Ahmed Tibi, a Palestinian candidate, said voters were casting ballots in unprecedented numbers. Both Netanyahu and his main rival, Gadi Eisenkot, have ruled out forming a coalition with Arab parties. They cited a lack of shared values, though some scenarios suggest these parties could support a minority government to remove Netanyahu from office.

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel filed a complaint with the election commission. The group warned that widespread delays might suppress the vote among Israeli Palestinians. ACRI reported delays in at least 18 communities and asked the committee to investigate whether the slowdowns were deliberate. The organization also noted a large presence of police and National Guard officers at a polling station in the Negev Desert. Officials there raised concerns that crowd control measures were being used to prevent voters from entering.

Voting continues across the country. Officials attributed the exceptionally long lines to the high turnout rather than logistical failures. The final results will determine the composition of the Knesset and the next government.