With the polls closed, no majority emerged from the Israeli election. According to Channel 12 exit polls, Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party leads with 24 seats, while Gadi Eisenkot's Yashar party holds 22. However, the former IDF chief's Change Bloc party, with 52 seats, surpasses the outgoing prime minister's 50. A historic and unequivocal result was achieved by the Arab parties, with the Joint List (a grouping of three factions) gaining 11 seats and Mansour Abbas's Ra'am another 7.

"The preliminary results indicate a complete lack of confidence in Netanyahu and the October 7 government. If these are the final results, I will act immediately to replace the Netanyahu government," Eisenkot declared in his first comments. On this October 27th, as if in a collective act of catharsis, voters flocked to the polls en masse from 7:00 a.m. onwards to decide Israel's future. Long lines, flooding in the south, road closures due to bad weather, lightning in the city center, and heavy rain in Jerusalem did nothing to dampen Israelis' urgency to turn over a new leaf. All hope of escaping a three-year nightmare rests on a small ballot placed in a blue cardboard box. As if by magic. From the first turnout figures, published by the Central Election Commission two hours after the polls opened, the impressive turnout was evident. With readings every two hours, they have surpassed the figures for 1981, 1977, and 1973, the year in which the Commission began recording the data.

Arab-Israelis, who represent 18% of the country's electorate, showed a very high turnout, with the Bedouin communities of the Negev registering a higher turnout than in several other predominantly Jewish or ultra-Orthodox cities. On social media and television, hundreds of videos showed lines of women in black hijabs holding ballots, ready to cast their ballots. This was an unusual image, indeed one absent from the rest of the Middle East. Out of 319 million Arab countries, Arab-Israelis are the only ones with the right to vote. Netanyahu faced a tough day by flooding social media with a torrent of posts. Releasing a strategy already employed in the 2022 elections, the outgoing prime minister raised the alarm: "They are trying to steal the elections from us." "Voter turnout was higher than usual in left-wing strongholds. It's a choice between the right and Palestine. Right-wing voters, it's an emergency! Go vote for the Likud immediately!" In pressuring voters, he cited the arrest of three members of the Arab Ra'am party who had envelopes with cash to influence the vote.

Then he posted a video: "You have been warned: Arab voter turnout in the South is vastly higher than that of Jews, you must go vote! Bring your grandmother, your aunt, your neighbor, no beach or barbecue today." Bibi's dramatic tone, a veteran accustomed to political drama, almost jars compared to his opponent's restraint. Eisenkot, a former army chief with zero charisma, comfortable away from the spotlight, chose to visit Kibbutz Nir Oz before heading to the polls, where on October 7, 2023, Gaza terrorists killed 47 people and took 76 others hostage. Accompanying him was Gadi Mozes, a kibbutz farmer who was dragged by Hamas to the Strip and released after 482 days of captivity. "I pledge to do everything I can to ensure that you are worthy of the price you have paid," Eisenkot said. Then, before casting his vote, he went to the Herzliya military cemetery, where his son Gal, killed in the war in Gaza, is buried. The Election Commission met briefly around 7 p.m. to respond to the Likud's petition calling for an extension of voting hours. The request was denied. On Tuesday, Tel Aviv bars, which usually close at 6 p.m., stayed open until late at night. Embracing President Herzog's words: "The elections are a true celebration for democracy."

(Unioneonline)

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