Israel Holds General Election Amid Tampering Allegations
Israeli voters cast ballots for the Knesset amid record early turnout and accusations of systematic ballot tampering and voter bribery.
Israeli citizens are casting ballots for the Knesset in a general election marked by the highest early turnout since 1981. Voters in Ofakim and along the Gaza border reported significant wait times, while local businesses saw increased foot traffic. The election is a tight race between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and centrist challenger Gadi Eisenkot.
Multiple political parties filed formal complaints with the Central Elections Committee alleging systematic ballot tampering. The Yashar, Yisrael Beiteinu, and People of Israel parties reported missing, damaged, or overturned ballots, while the Reservists and Economic Party specifically accused the Likud party of orchestrating these incidents. Additionally, the Chareidi Public Party reported missing ballots in Bnei Brak, and a voter in Yeruham claimed she was offered 500 shekels to vote for a specific party.
Netanyahu accused Arab political parties of attempting to steal the election following reports of arrests involving envelopes of cash. The Central Elections Committee denied evidence of systematic tampering, clarifying that the arrests were a localized case involving individuals who had not yet reached polling stations.
