Netanyahu Accuses Opponents of Election Manipulation Amid High Turnout

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accused his opponents of trying to manipulate Israel’s national election on Tuesday. This accusation arose following the arrest of suspects linked to a voter-bribery investigation. With record-high voter turnout reported, Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition initiated an emergency mobilization effort in the closing hours before polls were set to close.

Netanyahu expressed, “They are trying to steal the election from us,” while referring to three people said to be associated with the Arab Ra’am party. These individuals were arrested over allegations of bribing voters in southern Israel. However, Ra’am has denied any wrongdoing.

The accusations came as voter turnout reached 66.7 percent by 6 p.m., a significant increase from 57.7 percent at the same time during the 2022 election. This figure represents the highest turnout ever recorded in Israeli history at that point, according to the Central Elections Committee.

As polls were set to close at 10 p.m. local time, Netanyahu, along with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, coordinated urgent measures to rally right-wing voters. This included plans to bring together numerous local officials, as per Smotrich’s Religious Zionism party.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir was seen going door-to-door in Bat Yam, encouraging residents to cast their votes. Meanwhile, Likud reported that hundreds of volunteers were canvassing in Lod. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar stressed the significance of the day, stating, “this day will determine the existence of the Jewish state.”

This last-minute effort followed reports of substantial turnout in Arab areas and strongholds of left-wing parties, raising alarms among coalition members about their ability to engage supporters and whether smaller right-wing parties would clear Israel’s 3.25 percent electoral threshold.

In a separate development, Likud and various allied parties petitioned the Central Elections Committee to extend voting beyond the planned 10 p.m. closing time. Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party opposed this petition, claiming that Netanyahu was setting the stage to challenge the election’s legitimacy.

Election officials have already stated that voters who are in line when polls close will still be allowed to cast their ballots.

The unfolding situation is part of a tightly contested election. Final pre-election polls indicated that neither Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc nor their opponents were expected to win a clear majority in Israel’s 120-member Knesset.

The results may ultimately depend on smaller parties surpassing the electoral threshold, with television exit polls anticipated shortly after voting concludes.