Israelis shatter turnout records in election that will pass wartime judgment on Netanyahu
Polls show close race between Netanyahu's Likud party and rival alliance led by Gadi Eisenkot
Israelis surged to the polls on Tuesday, at a pace that shattered records, to pass wartime judgment on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in what voters described as the most consequential election in the nation's history.
asserted
voters → shatter → history
Long lines formed outside polling stations for the first election since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, with voters passionately engaged over the trauma of the country's deadliest day and the ensuing wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.
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voters → form → Gaza
The Central Elections Committee reported that 44.9 per cent of eligible voters had already cast their ballots within the first seven hours of voting, with eight more hours to go.
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cent → report → hours
That "broke all records," it said.
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it → break → records
Policies of Netanyahu's right-wing coalition have been divisive at home and have deepened Israel's international isolation, while he has defended his record, calling himself the only leader with the mettle to face down Israel's foes.
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he → deepen → foes
Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving leader with 19 years in office, is an unmatched political survivor, and his nationalist politics are increasingly entrenched.
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politics → serve → office
Israel's fragmented system makes it difficult for an array of opponents to force out his coalition of right-wing, far-right and ultra-Orthodox parties.
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array → make → parties
His main rival Gadi Eisenkot, a military ex-chief of staff and security hawk, aims to unseat him with the support of parties on the right and centre, as well as the rump of an increasingly marginalized left.
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rival → aim → left
Opinion polls show a close race, with neither leader facing an easy path to power.
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leader → show → power
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacts after filling out his ballot before voting at a polling station in Jerusalem.
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Netanyahu → react → Jerusalem
Forecasters were hesitant to guess what impact the unprecedented turnout might have on the result.
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turnout → guess → result
A surge in votes from Israelis of Palestinian heritage could limit gains for Netanyahu's right-wing coalition, while increasing the odds that any government formed to oust him would require Arab parties' support — a contentious prospect among Jewish party leaders.
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government → limit → leaders
'Stream to the polls'
In a message to supporters more than five hours after polls opened, Netanyahu urged them to vote, saying turnout was high among his opponents on the left and among Israelis of Arab heritage, around one-fifth of the country.
"
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turnout → stream → country
We need it to be high, too.
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it → need → ?
You all need to stream to the polls," he said.
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he → need → polls
"
"I think these elections are the most important of all the ones I’ve known," said Ruth Epstein, an 81-year-old, longtime left-wing voter in Ramat Gan, near Tel Aviv, who voted for the opposition Democrats.
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who → think → Democrats
"I’m really scared about what will be here."
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what → ’m → ?
- Analysis
Netanyahu 'fighting for his political life' in 1st Israeli vote since Oct. 7.
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Netanyahu → fight → Oct.
He might still survive
Netanyahu faces fresh allegations he ignored warnings about Oct. 7 — right before an election
Netanyahu has campaigned on an endorsement from U.S. President Donald Trump, his ally in war against Iran, who has said they should "finish the job."
uncertain
they → survive → job
If neither Netanyahu nor Eisenkot can form a governing coalition in the 120-seat parliament, Netanyahu could stay on as caretaker until another election is held.
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election → form → caretaker
His opponents have managed to wrest him from the premiership only once since 2009, and that took four inconclusive elections in two years.
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that → manage → years
Eisenkot sees 'new spirit'
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Eisenkot → see → spirit
For many of Netanyahu's opponents, the election turns on accountability for the security failures of Oct. 7, Israel's deadliest day.
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election → turn → Oct.
Opposition groups have promised to hold a national inquiry, which Netanyahu's government has resisted.
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government → promise → which
"I am convinced that by the end of today, we will see a change — a new spirit for the State of Israel — that will serve as a rectification for the past three years and for that terrible day," Eisenkot said during a visit to kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel, targeted in the Oct. 7 attacks.
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Eisenkot → see → attacks
He walked to the polls with Gadi Mozes, one of 251 people kidnapped by Hamas and taken to Gaza during the attack that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.
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that → walk → tallies
Eisenkot says Israel's response — a war which Gaza health authorities say killed more than 74,000 Palestinians — was a failure because Hamas remains in charge.
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Hamas → say → charge
He repeated his commitment to dismantle or destroy Hamas' military and governing power in Gaza within 18 months of forming a government.
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He → repeat → government
Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of a far-right party in Netanyahu's coalition, cast his vote in the Kiryat Arba settlement in the occupied West Bank early on Tuesday.
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Gvir → cast → Tuesday
He predicted Netanyahu would return as prime minister and his own party would serve as the right-wing anchor of the government.
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party → predict → government
Ahmad Tibi, a candidate from an Arab party, said the record turnout from Israel's Arab minority would "pave the way for an alternative government and change the grave reality."
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turnout → say → reality
Eisenkot has ruled out partnering with Arab parties, citing a lack of shared values, although some possible scenarios envision them propping up a minority government to topple Netanyahu.
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them → rule → Netanyahu
Netanyahu has repeatedly described Arab-Israeli voters as a threat in language his opponents say crosses into racism.
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opponents → describe → racism
He posted an AI-generated image on X on Tuesday showing Arabs, including women in niqabs, queuing at a polling station, and told his supporters they were in a battle for the country's future.
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they → post → future
Cars with flags of Netanyahu's Likud party drove through the Jerusalem streets with loudspeakers blaring the Islamic call to prayer and saying: "Get out of your houses now.
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loudspeakers → drive → houses
Arabs are voting."
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Arabs → vote → ?
Like nearly all Jewish party leaders in Israel, Eisenkot opposes the two-state solution that once underpinned decades of peace negotiations with the Palestinians.
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that → oppose → Palestinians
But he has criticized Jewish settler violence against Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which has surged since 2023 and strained Israel's ties with Western states.
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which → criticize → states
And he opposes Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners.
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he → oppose → partners
A man casts his ballot at a polling station in Haifa, Israel, on Tuesday.
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man → cast → Tuesday
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
