The feeling that the future of Israel is decided in these elections has deeply resonated among the population, which has been voting in large numbers since the opening of the polling stations at 7:00 AM. Everything points to an unprecedented turnout in the first elections held after the attack on October 7, 2023, seen by many as a true referendum on Benjamin Netanyahu, the head of government who has held the position the longest since the country's independence in 1948.
"In these elections, the future of my great-grandchildren, my grandchildren, and all of us is at stake," summarizes Olga Reznik, who arrived from Argentina 27 years ago and now resides in a low-income housing facility in Kfar Sava, near Tel Aviv. "It is very important to know that my great-grandchildren can live in a democratic place, free," she asserts, denouncing that Israel is "a semi-dictatorship" and that Netanyahu has already governed for too many years. "We need a change," she argues.
Like Olga, many citizens believe that the country cannot continue with the same Executive in charge. This climate would explain why about 80,000 Israelis living abroad have taken flights specifically to exercise their right to vote, given the impossibility of voting by mail, and why participation is reaching historic levels.
According to the latest count from the Central Electoral Commission, by 4:00 PM, 55.7% of the more than 7.3 million Israelis called to the polls had voted, the highest percentage at that hour since records began in 1973. In Tel Aviv, a more liberal and secular city, participation reaches 50.5%, while in Jerusalem, where Netanyahu and the religious parties have greater support, it stands at 47.7%, and in Haifa at 46.3%.
In 2022, when the final turnout was 70.6%, at this same hour, a 47.5% was recorded. With polling stations open until 10:00 PM, all indicators point to a new record being reached, something that, in principle, would favor the opposition.
Concern in Netanyahu's circle
This is also interpreted by Netanyahu himself, who has urged Likud supporters to "wake up" after noticing that there are "huge lines" in the Arab-Israeli sectors. His parties could be decisive in the formation of the next Executive if the coalition led by former Army chief Gadi Eisenkot does not achieve the 61 seats necessary. "If we do not go out to vote now, we will find ourselves with a government of the Arab parties," he has warned on social media. The far-right minister Itamar Ben Gvir has also called on his followers to go to the polls.
The concern has led Likud to request an extension of voting hours, according to the 'Jerusalem Post'. This request has been joined by Ben Gvir's party and another coalition partner, Shas. Its leader, Arye Deri, has admitted in a statement that "the high turnout in the strongholds of the left and in the Arab sector is very concerning." "Unfortunately on our side, among the Haredim and in the strongholds of the right there is a kind of complacency," he lamented.
However, Yashar, the party led by Eisenkot, has rejected the proposal, claiming that "no unusual incident has occurred that warrants this request," which must be evaluated by the Electoral Commission. In the opinion of this center-right party, Likud intends to "lay the groundwork for claims against the integrity of the elections, in line with the lies that Netanyahu has been spreading since this morning."
The turnout has been intense since early on and in some polling places long lines have formed, as in one of the centers in the Florian neighborhood in Tel Aviv, a very diverse area where no signs of Netanyahu or his coalition allies were seen in the vicinity.
"It seems that more people are coming to vote, especially considering that last time the turnout percentage in Tel Aviv was quite low," confirms Uzi Ron to Europa Press, a member of a civil organization that supervises that the day proceeds normally. He explains that, although it is allowed to try to convince those who still doubt their vote, no pressure is exerted. "There have been no incidents here," he specifies.
Punishment vote and defense of the prime minister
Maya has been one of the voters in that polling station and has opted for the opposition. For this Israeli, who arrived from Argentina 20 years ago, "it is not logical" that Netanyahu has been in power for so many years —from 2009 until now, with a brief pause in 2021 and a previous term between 1996 and 1999— and that he has not been subjected to an "impeachment" for the 7-O.
This citizen believes that Israel has a "fascist Government," is alarmed that "the religious are taking the place of the secular" and the violence against Palestinians in the West Bank, and clearly bets on a change. "Just getting Netanyahu out of power is already a lot," she emphasizes, although she admits that "the change is going to be very gradual, but at least changing the people will be a first step." "Being part of a place that I know people go and mistreat another person does not align with my ideals," she stresses.
With these elections, it will be evident "if this is a democratic country or not, if it is a country bought like others in the world or if it is a country where the citizen votes for themselves," says Débora Finguerot, who came to Israel from Argentina with her four children shortly after the assassination of Prime Minister Isaac Rabin. "It was very significant for me," she confesses.
For Débora, who also resides in Kfar Sava, one of the issues that worries her the most is education. "In this country that they want to turn from a pluralistic and secular country into a religious country, education is the foundation for everything else," she warns, harshly criticizing the privileged situation of the ultra-Orthodox. "They can continue living in this country, but like all of us, paying taxes, working, going to the Army. That is all we ask for those of us who are voting for democracy."
Also for Marta Klipen, these are the "most important elections because many things are at stake, democracy, the change of people in the government, war, security... We have been through too much here, many dead and we want stability." Born in Argentina and arriving in Israel from Venezuela, she insists that what Israelis seek is "tranquility and peace." "It has been too many years with the same person, a change is required," she argues.
Not everyone shares this vision. Asher Adif has supported 'Bibi', as many Israelis call their prime minister, because he considers him "a great leader" and because he wants him to "end the problem" of Iran potentially obtaining a nuclear bomb. "Only Trump and Bibi can do these things," he argues, after the American president has expressed his support for Netanyahu ahead of these elections. "So these elections are to get him to do it," he adds.