Israel records highest partial election turnout since 1973
publishers 13articles 17first reported 27 Oct, 06:24 UTCdeveloping since 27 Oct · 5 editions
Israel recorded its highest partial election turnout in more than five decades on Tuesday as voters chose a new Knesset in a close contest between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.
The Central Elections Committee said 66.7% of eligible voters had cast ballots by 6 p.m. local time, surpassing the 65.2% recorded at the same point in 1973 and 1988. Earlier, 44.9% had voted by 2 p.m., the highest share at that stage since records began in 1973 and six percentage points above the equivalent figure in the 2022 election. Polls were due to close at 10 p.m.
The vote is Israel’s first national election since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. Netanyahu has campaigned on his wartime leadership, while his opponents have emphasized accountability for the security failures surrounding the attacks and called for a national inquiry.
Opinion polls indicated a close race, with neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor Eisenkot’s prospective allies assured of a majority in the 120-seat parliament. High turnout also raised the number of votes parties would need to clear the 3.25% threshold for representation.
Netanyahu urged his supporters to vote, citing strong turnout among left-leaning and Arab communities. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel asked election officials to investigate delays reported in at least 18 Arab communities and determine whether they were deliberate.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 5 articles, 4 with the publisher's own text; 5 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 6 h after the record first saw the story; the editor revised it.
- Publishers
- 13
- Source articles
- 17
- Given to the writer
- 5, 4 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 5
- This version written
- 6 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- revised
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and changed it before publication. Struck words were in the draft; underlined words are its corrections.
WHAT IT FLAGGED editor revise: Generalize the inquiry call to Netanyahu’s opponents and remove the unsupported statement about investigation findings. - "Eisenkot and other opponents have emphasized accountability for the security failures surrounding the attacks and called for a national inquiry.": The sources say opposition groups called for a national inquiry but do not specifically say Eisenkot did so. - "No findings had been announced while voting continued.": The sources do not report whether the requested investigation produced findings.
THE DRAFT AND THE CHANGES
Israel records highest partial election turnout since 1973
Israel recorded its highest partial election turnout in more than five decades on Tuesday as voters chose a new Knesset in a close contest between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.
The Central Elections Committee said 66.7% of eligible voters had cast ballots by 6 p.m. local time, surpassing the 65.2% recorded at the same point in 1973 and 1988. Earlier, 44.9% had voted by 2 p.m., the highest share at that stage since records began in 1973 and six percentage points above the equivalent figure in the 2022 election. Polls were due to close at 10 p.m.
The vote is Israel’s first national election since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. Netanyahu has campaigned on his wartime leadership, while Eisenkot and otherhis opponents have emphasized accountability for the security failures surrounding the attacks and called for a national inquiry.
Opinion polls indicated a close race, with neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor Eisenkot’s prospective allies assured of a majority in the 120-seat parliament. High turnout also raised the number of votes parties would need to clear the 3.25% threshold for representation.
Netanyahu urged his supporters to vote, citing strong turnout among left-leaning and Arab communities. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel asked election officials to investigate delays reported in at least 18 Arab communities and determine whether they were deliberate. No findings had been announced while voting continued.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →