Israel votes in close election as Netanyahu fights to retain power
publishers 133articles 211first reported 23 Oct, 08:48 UTCdeveloping since 23 Oct · 9 editionstop 25 #1
Israelis voted Tuesday in the country’s first national election since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing a close challenge from an alliance led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.
Turnout reached 55.7% by 4 p.m., the highest recorded at that point in an Israeli election since 1973, according to the Central Elections Committee. About 7.3 million people were eligible to vote. Polling stations opened at 7 a.m. and were scheduled to close at 10 p.m., although Netanyahu’s Likud party formally requested extended voting hours, The National reported.
The campaign has focused on responsibility for the October 7 security failures, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and its wars with Iran. Netanyahu has emphasized his wartime leadership and relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump. Eisenkot has accused the prime minister of campaigning through fear and called on voters to replace his government.
After voting, Netanyahu warned of efforts to “steal the election” and expressed concern about turnout among Arab citizens. Eisenkot’s Yashar party said Netanyahu was preparing to challenge the result. Mansour Abbas, leader of the Arab party Ra’am, accused Netanyahu of using his party to mobilize right-wing voters and urged sustained turnout to defeat the governing coalition.
Pre-election polls indicated a tight race, with neither Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc nor Eisenkot’s alliance assured a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. Netanyahu may need renewed support from far-right leaders Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich to form a government. Final counting was expected by Friday, with official results due November 4.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 3 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 100 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 133
- Source articles
- 211
- Given to the writer
- 8, 3 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 100 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
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- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
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