29.10.2026 18:21
In Israel’s general election, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was trailing his rival Gadi Eisenkot in the polls, claimed in a video released while polling stations were open that “they are trying to steal the election from us.” Netanyahu, arguing that Arab voters were flocking to the polls, issued an “emergency” call to his voters. By midday, turnout had reached 31.5 percent, the highest level since 1977.
Netanyahu, against whom the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant over the attacks in Gaza, has been gripped by fear of losing power. In Israel, as voters headed to the polls, Netanyahu framed the election around an “Arab threat.” After casting his vote and appearing before the cameras, Netanyahu addressed his voters, saying, “This is an emergency call,” and urged them to vote.
HE TARGETED ARAB VOTERS Claiming that turnout in the Arab sector in the south was “incomparably higher” than in the Jewish sector, Netanyahu targeted Arab politicians Sami Abu Shehadeh, Ahmed Tibi and Mansour Abbas. Netanyahu said, “Shehadeh says it, Ahmed Tibi says it, Mansour Abbas says it; in their own words: ‘Our voters are flocking to the polls.’”
Urging his voters to bring family members and neighbors to the polls as well, Netanyahu said, “No one should stay home! No beach, no barbecue; we’re going out and voting Mahal.” Mahal is used as the letter code for Likud on the ballot.
“WILL BRING AN END TO THE STATE OF ISRAEL” CLAIM Presenting the election as a matter of existence, Netanyahu said, “What is at stake, what is in danger on the table, is the protection of our Jewish state: a strong right-wing government led by Likud together with all our partners, or a left-wing government to be formed with Arab parties that will bring an end to the State of Israel as we know it?”
“THIS IS AN EMERGENCY CALL” In a video post on his X social media account, Netanyahu said:
“My brothers, Likud voters! This is an emergency call.
Because they are trying to steal the elections from us.
This morning the police reported a grave and extraordinary situation: in the southern region they caught three senior financial officials of the Ra’am party with envelopes full of money. This is a crime; they will reach everyone, be warned.
The voting rate in the Arab sector in the south is incomparably higher than in the Jewish sector. You must go out and vote.
Shehadeh says it, Ahmed Tibi says it, Mansour Abbas says it; in their own words: ‘Our voters are flocking to the polls.’
You too must flock to the polls and make sure everyone comes: grandfather, grandmother, uncle, aunt, neighbors.
No one should stay home! No beach, no barbecue; we’re going out and voting Mahal (Likud’s letter code on the ballot: M-H-L).
Because what is at stake, what is in danger on the table, is the protection of our Jewish state: a strong right-wing government led by Likud together with all our partners, or a left-wing government to be formed with Arab parties that will bring an end to the State of Israel as we know it?
Go out and vote, don’t stay home. We’re voting Mahal. With all our strength — Mahal!”
In another post during the day, Netanyahu claimed that “left-wing activists are flocking to the polls, while right-wing activists are indifferent.” Netanyahu cast his vote in Jerusalem together with his wife, Sara Netanyahu.
WHAT DID THE POLICE SAY? According to the Israeli press, police detained 3 people on suspicion of electoral bribery during searches in Segev Shalom and Ar’ara in the Negev. Envelopes containing tens of thousands of shekels in cash, ballot papers and notes were seized in the homes. Police suspect the money was intended to be distributed in exchange for votes for Ra’am. However, police did not make a statement that those detained were the party’s “senior financial officials,” as Netanyahu claimed. Police also did not allege that the party leadership was involved in the incident. The suspects will be brought before a court today with a request to extend their detention.
RA’AM: THEY WERE DETAINED WITHOUT JUSTIFICATION Ra’am, for its part, argued that its prominent activists in the Negev had been detained “without any justified reason.” The party, which filed a complaint with the Central Elections Committee, announced that it had received reports that Arabic-language Ra’am ballot papers were missing and that torn ballot papers were found in many localities, including Nazareth and Shefa-Amr. Ra’am argued that what happened was an attempt by the right to prevent the party from reaching 8 seats and to prevent the formation of a “change” government.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett cast his vote at a school in the city of Ra’anana. HE ALSO TARGETED ARAB VOTERS IN 2015 In the 2015 elections as well, Netanyahu, in a video he published on election day, called on his voters to go to the polls by saying “Arab voters are flocking to the polls,” and he was criticized for racism because of these words.
EISENKOT AHEAD IN THE POLLS Netanyahu’s call came at a time when he was trailing his rival in the polls. In the Kan 11, Channel 12 and Channel 13 polls published for the last time before the election in the Israeli press, the Yashar party led by former Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot emerged as the largest party with 22-23 seats. Netanyahu’s Likud party was projected to win 19-21 seats.
In the polls, Netanyahu’s bloc remained at 50 seats, while the opposition bloc won between 52 and 56 seats. The Arab parties were projected to win a total of 14-16 seats. Neither bloc reaches the 61 seats needed to form a government on its own. This picture puts the Arab parties in a decisive position in the government-formation process. Netanyahu’s targeting of the Arab parties on election day also came after this picture.
FEAR OF LOSING For Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, more than just a seat is at stake in the election. Netanyahu, who is on trial in a years-long corruption case, has not yet been granted the pardon he requested from President Isaac Herzog. There is also an ICC arrest warrant issued against him on grounds of “war crimes” and “crimes against humanity” over the attacks in Gaza. Israel is being tried in a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its attacks in Gaza.
Netanyahu is also being held responsible for the security failure in the October 7 attack. The Haaretz newspaper described the election as “an election that could end Netanyahu’s power.”
RECORD TURNOUT In Israel, voting began at 07:00 local time (08:00 Turkish time) to determine the 120 members of the Knesset. According to data from the Central Elections Committee, turnout as of 10:00 was 16.7 percent. The rate was 15.9 percent at the same time in the 2022 elections. By midday, turnout rose to 31.5 percent, reaching the highest level recorded at that time since 1977. According to Haaretz, more than 2.3 million people had voted by noon.
EISENKOT: CHANGE IS COMING Netanyahu’s main rival Eisenkot, meanwhile, asked voters to be patient. Eisenkot said, “I know the lines are long, I ask you to be patient.” Saying that change is coming, Eisenkot stressed that no one would be allowed to jeopardize this change. President Herzog also described the election as “a true festival of democracy.”
7.3 MILLION VOTERS AT THE POLLS Across the country, 7.3 million voters are voting at 12,018 polling stations. In the election, more than 30 parties and lists are competing to pass the 3.25 percent threshold. Polls will close at 22:00 local time (23:00 Turkish time). Exit polls are expected to be announced after the polls close. Official results are expected to be certified on November 4.
About 6 million Palestinians living in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank, and in the blockaded Gaza Strip, cannot vote, even though they are directly affected by the Israeli government’s policies.
IF A GOVERNMENT CANNOT BE FORMED If no bloc can secure a majority, President Herzog will give the task of forming the government to the strongest candidate. The candidate will have 42 days to form a government. If a government cannot be formed, the current coalition led by Netanyahu will remain in office as a transitional government, and new elections will be held within a few months.
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