The president of Israel, Isaac Herzog, called this Tuesday for broad participation in the legislative elections. After voting alongside his wife, Michal, he reminded the citizens that they can "take their destiny into their own hands" within the framework of "a proud and dignified democracy."
"Michal and I are very proud to be here today, as millions of Israelis go to the polls to vote and take their destiny into their own hands, in an authentic, proud, and dignified democracy. This is the story of Israel: an incredible nation that goes to vote and decides about our future," he pointed out.
Herzog praised the work of the electoral commission and expressed his hope that the day unfolds "without incidents." "I wish the people of Israel, my wonderful nation, great success in these elections," he stated, emphasizing that today is meant to "make an impact" through the ballots.
Alongside the head of state, other relevant leaders have already exercised their right to vote, such as the leader of the ultra-Orthodox party Shas, Aryeh Deri. From a polling station in Jerusalem, he urged his supporters to go en masse to the polls to respond to the "danger facing Judaism."
"There is a real struggle around Judaism, the Torah, and above all, obedience to the authority of the Torah," he pointed out. "I ask everyone, without exception, to go out and vote immediately. We are truly facing a situation where Judaism is in danger. All the great sages of the Torah are crying and pleading," he added.
"There are expectations of very high electoral participation in the strongholds of the left and in the Arab sector. Tens of thousands of people have come from abroad to vote, overthrow the government, and harm the Torah," Deri warned, according to the newspaper 'The Times of Israel.'
In the opposition bloc, the leader of Democrats, Yair Golan, highlighted that the appointment with the polls is what will allow "to save Israel." "We fought for four years in the streets, and now we are taking the fight to the polls," he stated, also calling for support to be able to be part of the next government.
The leader of the Arab-Israeli party Hadash, Yusef Jabarin, has defined the day as a "decisive day" and has assured that the Arabs of Israel "trust in their ability to achieve change and remove this fascist Government from power," referring to the Executive headed by the current Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.
More than 7.3 million Israeli citizens are called to vote in elections in which Netanyahu is risking his continuity after four years in power marked by the attacks of October 7, 2023. On the other side is a diverse bloc of parties, led by former Army Chief Gadi Eisenkot, which aims to unseat him and close the era of the most right-leaning Government that Israel has had since its founding in 1948.