Almost seven million Israelis are summoned to the polls to vote in this plebiscite on Netanyahu, whose coalition will remain one seat away from the absolute majority, according to polls
Israel Live on groundhog day. As of seven in the morning, 6.78 million Israelis can vote again in the fifth election in three and a half years. It is expected that the general apathy translates into a low turnout, but the data three hours after opening the polling stations are the highest since 1981 with a 15.9%. Surveys forecast some very tight resultswith the bloc led by former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu falling just one seat short of an absolute majority.
“These elections will decide the future of the country; go vote that there is a future and we will continue working for you & rdquor ;, said the acting prime minister, Yair Lapid, after voting in Tel Aviv. The current leader of the country is aware of the need for citizens to exercise their right to vote. The polls give 56 seats to the coalition that he leads together with formations of the left, right and center. Instead, Netanyahu and his ultra-conservative allies could reach the 60 deputies of the Knesset with 120 seats.
צאו להצביע יש עתיד – בשביל הילדים שלנו??? pic.twitter.com/QB4L7Xku7P
— יאיר לפיד – Yair Lapid (@yairlapid) November 1, 2022
Even so, these elections could mean the return of the longest-serving prime minister in Israel’s history after 16 months as leader of the opposition. In this way, Netanyahu would benefit from the rise of the far right with the coalition Religious Zionism positioning himself as a third force in the chamber. This party openly racist, homophobic and anti-Arab holds the key to Netanyahu’s return.
Depending on the Palestinian vote
It is in the hands of the Palestinian population of Israel that the Knesset becomes the most right-wing in its history. The votes of 1.8 million Palestinians, more than 26% of the electorate, can ensure that the Palestinian parties overcome the electoral threshold of 3.25% and prevent the radical right from rallying enough support under Netanyahu’s leadership. But there is not much hope in this prognosis, since this community, which is often treated as second class citizenship except when she is needed at the polls, she does not usually participate in the elections.
It is also expected that the left get them worst results in its history. It is not clear if Meretz and the Labor Party will manage to cross the threshold and win a minimum of 4 seats. Meanwhile, citizens go to the polls worried about the cost of living. Israel is the seventh most expensive country in the world and the second in the real estate market. Although this has been the deadliest year in the occupied territories Palestinians with 136 dead, the Israeli electorate does not seem affected by it.
אזהרה חמורה ‼️
אם אנחנו לא יוצאים להצביע מחל אנחנו מפסידים ללפיד. אתם לא רוצים שזה יקרה שוב. pic.twitter.com/PLGhGmNk4p
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) November 1, 2022
More than 3,500 million dollars have been invested in another electoral campaign to get out of the political gridlock impassive since 2019. Netanyahu insists on getting his sixth term. Maybe this way, and thanks to the help of his Jewish supremacist associates, he can dodge their corruption and bribery trials. But there are not many prospects that these are the last elections in the Jewish state. Many are already looking forward to next spring, especially Yair Lapid. The current prime minister would benefit from another six months of government to convince the Israeli public that it is a royal alternative to Netanyahu.