Israel elections 2026 live: Likud claims Arab parties ‘stole’ election and calls for probe into alleged ‘fraud’

And while we wait, why not read Stephen Pollard’s analysis of an eventful election night – Echoes of Brexit as pundits called it wrong in writing off Bibi prematurely

4.46pm – CEC reviewing Likud claims of voter fraud
“The Central Elections Committee has launched its election-integrity monitoring operation, as it does in every election, as part of which all inquiries from parties concerning election integrity or alleged errors in the results will be examined,” the committee said.

“The committee received Likud’s request and is reviewing it as part of this operation.”

4.07pm - Likud claims Arab parties 'stole’ election, calls for investigation into alleged fraud

“The elections in Israel were stolen by Arab parties that support terror and the elimination of the Jewish state through serious criminal offenses of bribery, threats, violence, forgeries and the use of illegal software to mobilize voters,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu’s party in a statement, demanding a “thorough investigation”.

The party said it would submit hundreds of pieces of evidence to the Israel Police, Shin Bet and CEC.

These include allegations of envelopes containing Ra’am ballots and cash being distributed to voters and threats against polling station workers.

A CEC official earlier gave an interview to Channel 12 in which they denied claims of widespread voter fraud.

Netanyahu, meanwhile, made claims that Arab voters were “stealing” the election as early as the morning of polling day, but no evidence has been provided publicly.

3.31pm – Board of Deputies celebrates successful election event, featuring former JC editor

2.55pm – Rumours of a poor night for Shas

2.29pm – Breakdown of seats by party as it stands

1.28pm – President Herzog urges parties to avoid another set of elections

“One thing must be understood, and I said this even before the elections: We must do everything possible, especially after yesterday, to avoid another round of elections,” the president said in a statement.

“Therefore, I expect everyone who comes here to do so with an open mind.”

1.23pm – (Almost) final results

With 85 per cent of overall votes counted – 100 per cent of normal ballots excluding so-called double envelope votes from soldiers, prisoners and diplomatic representatives – the results are as follows:

Netanyahu bloc – 53

Eisenkot bloc – 48

Arab parties – 19

Double envelope votes could take until tomorrow to count and, based on recent voting trends, could slightly dilute the Arab vote, but significant changes are now unlikely.

12.10pm – Arab Joint List confirms coalition talks with opposition bloc

“The Joint List wants to assist, to help replace this government, and to pave the way for an alternative government,” Ta’al chairman Ahmad Tibi told Kan.

“That is why I say that we are extending a hand to what has been called the ‘change bloc,’ to help establish an alternative government and replace this terrible government.”

11.54am – Tel Aviv vs the world?

11.32am - We are ready to oust Netanyahu, says Arab Joint List

Yousef Jabareen, who leads the alliance made up of three smaller Arab parties, said it is now “a decisive force in politics”.

“We will be prepared to pave the way for ousting the Netanyahu, Ben-Gvir and Smotrich government and sending them home,” he went on.

“The choice is between continued racism, exclusion and supremacy, or a genuine Jewish-Arab partnership.”

The faction is, per the latest data, expected to win around 13 seats. In theory, this would give it significant power to decide the balance of power.

However, both prospective governing blocs contain enough parties who refuse to sit with the Joint List to pose a significant challenge in forming any coalition.

11.06am – Analysis: Netanyahu is down but not out – this is no time to bet against the comeback king
By JC Political Correspondent Jane Prinsley, in Israel

Both sides have claimed victory. But as things stand there is no clear winner.

Netanyahu is doing better than the exit polls predicted.

It may not be enough to secure a majority, but it leaves those who campaigned to remove him at all costs facing uncomfortable truths about the Israeli electorate…

Read the full piece here. 

10.49am – How can parties lose seats?

A very good question that came up at the JC offices this morning.

Unlike the UK or US, Israel does not have any constituencies, so parties do not win specific seats.

Instead, every party above the 3.25 per cent electoral threshold receives seats based on its proportion of the vote down to a minimum of four, so as one party's share increases, others’ can decrease and, thus, they can end up with a lower seat total compared with an earlier stage of the count.

10.44am – 84 per cent of votes now counted

The latest data boosts the Eisenkot block to 49, with the Arab parties dropping to 17

9.15am – After 76 per cent of votes counted, the Likud-led bloc has 54 seats, the Eisenkot-led bloc has 47 and Arab parties have 19

Markets are not impressed with the lack of clarity. The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange’s TA-125 benchmark index slumps 1.7 per cent and the TA-35 index of blue-chip companies slips 1.5 per cent.

Trump, however, sees an opportunity, claiming on Truth Social that his endorsement of Netanyahu turned around his campaign and may still carry him back to office:

8.20am – Shekel drops v dollar over inconclusive result

The shekel drops against the US dollar amid uncertainty over who will lead the next government, depreciating 0.7 per cent to NIS 3.0765 per dollar in morning trading in Tel Aviv.

8.10am – After 72 per cent of votes counted, the Likud-led bloc has 54 seats, the Eisenkot-led bloc has 48 and Arab parties have 18

Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats, is urging parties in the bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot to join up with with the Arab parties and form a government.

“Netanyahu lost. I know how to count to 120. 65 is more than 55. That’s how Israeli democracy works. Period,” Golan writes on X.

“The reality must teach us one resounding lesson: We have no future here if we don’t stop being afraid. And if we don’t stop with the racism.”

6.40am – Advantage Netanyahu?

While Netanyahu still lacks a clear path to the 61 seats needed to form a governing coalition, some Israeli analysts are suggesting – based on his 54 seats so far – he could receive the first opportunity to form Israel’s next government.

6.05am – With 50 per cent of votes counted, the pro-Netanyahu bloc has 54 seats and the anti-Netanyahu bloc 48

Another election, another inconclusive result – so far.

With 50 per cent of votes counted, neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his main rival Gadi Eisenkot are within reach of the 61 seats needed for a governing majority in the 120-seat parliament.

Two key points based on results so far. First, Netanyahu’s path to staying in power is unclear.

Second, the Arab parties have so far won an unprecedented 16 seats, a number which may well grow. But since two key anti-Bibi bloc leaders – Avigdor Lieberman and Naftali Bennett – have ruled out forming a government with them, Eisenkot’s path to victory is also unclear.

The large number of Arab seats has almost certainly been driven by a historically high turnout, claimed by Arab parties to have been 75 per cent – amid a general-population turnout of at least 77.7 per cent, the highest since 1977.

The final voter turnout among IDF soldiers reached 79.9 per cent, according to the military – an increase of 6.2 per cent compared to the previous election in 2022.

Three parties are currently below the threshold of 3.25 per cent of overall votes cast needed to enter the Knesset: Reservists (2.7 per cent), People of Israel (1.7 per cent), Charedi Public (0.2 per cent).

The results will change as counting continues.

Since there are more questions than answers at the moment, here are some people going to vote on camels:

1.40am – Likud is biggest party crows Netanyahu at Jerusalem HQ

Arriving shortly before 3am Israel time to speak to his supporters at the Likud election headquarters in Jerusalem, prime minster Benjamin Netanyahu appeared defiantly determined to stay on in power, despite opposition leaders telling him to quit.

Appearing to claim a victory for his coalition enabling him to stay on in power, he said: “The right-wing bloc has a decisive majority.”

Exit polling has suggested no bloc as any of them currently stand will be able to call on the 61 seats needed out of the total of 120 in the Knesset, but Netanyahu said: “We are still waiting for the true results,” and added: “The Likud is the biggest party in Israel.”

Turning to the Islamic Republic which he long fought to weaken and ultimately vanquish, Netanyahu said: “Iran is weaker than ever, Israel is stronger than ever.”

He added: “Israel is facing a historic, one-time opportunity along with our friend President Trump, to remove the Iranian threat once and for all.

“We have been able to overcome our enemies, and we will be able to in the future.”

The remarks come amid ongoing speculation that the US and Israel will resume attacks on Iran after the mid-term elections in America next week, following which Trump may feel less constrained by worries about his own electorate.

Netanyahu also warned against a government including what he described as “antizionist” Arab parties, while hinting at being open to a wider coalition with other parties, saying: “The Zionist majority must come to its senses and unite.”

However, he ruled out the possibility of compromising with coalition parties and agreeing to a “rotation” agreement allowing other leaders to be prime minister.

1.15 – … and then a set-back for Bibi

In a sign of the fast-changing nature of events – and the noisy nature of exit poll updates – Channel 14 have revised the count downwards for Netanyahu’s bloc to just 60, denying him a majority.

Crucially, it found that Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beytenu Party has passed the all-important 3.25 per cent threshold, allowing it pick up seats in the Knesset that otherwise might well go to Likud.

1am – Boost for Benjamin Netanyahu as count continues

Although exit polls suggested there was no overall winner, as the night wore on into the early hours the position of Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party appeared to be improving.

The Channel 12 exit poll adjusted its earlier figures to give the current government bloc 52 seats – up from the 50 earlier – while the opposition seats in this estimate numbered just 49, down from 52.

Meanwhile, the Arab parties remained in a position of unprecedented strength, with the Arab Joint List and Ra’am together still set to claim 19 seats.

In a finding that if borne out by reality would horrify the opposition, the Channel 14 updated exit poll gave a projection of 61 seats for Netanyahu’s coalition, giving a slim one-seat majority.

The poll – at this stage an outlier compared with those of other outlets – found a significant game-changer in its estimate that the Yisrael Beytenu Party of Avigdor Lieberman would fail to meet the 3.25 per cent threshold of the overall vote required of all Knesset parties. The redistributed votes are likely to boost Likud’s share.

Still at this very early stage late in the night, there was a further fillip for Netanyahu, with the Central Elections Committee at 2.30am Israeli time declaring that it had completed the count of the first 100,000 ballots, with 27 per cent of the vote going to Likud.

For Yashar led by Gadi Eisenkot there was a share of just 17 per cent, still far ahead of the 9 per cent for the Naftali Bennett-led B’Yachad party.

With the counting continuing and amid the wait for the hundreds of thousands of votes from serving soldiers, the final result is unlikely to emerge before Thursday.

12.05am – We want government replaced, says Ra’am leader

Mansour Abbas, the leader of Israel’s largest Islamist party, Ra’am, has spoken of his wish to see an end to the current government.

With his party projected to take around seven seats in the Knesset – as part of a wider Arab bloc totalling 17 or 18 seats – he told Channel 12: “Arab society has reacted to this government’s policy,” adding: “We want to replace it in almost every way.”

As exit polls suggest neither of the two blocs – for and against Benjamin Netanyahu – may be able to form an overall majority, Abbas said: "With the numbers we have now, there is no government."

The Knesset member who made history in 2021 as the first Arab-Muslim to join the cabinet as a government minister added he had been contacted by both blocs for exploratory talks on forming a coalition.

11.35pm – Yair Lapid claims: State of Israel was saved today
Opposition leader and former prime minister Yair Lapid told supporters in Tel Aviv the “State of Israel was saved today” in the election, while also hinting at the possibility of forming a minority government.

The former television presenter said: “The State of Israel was saved today. To be more accurate, the State of Israel saved itself today.

“This country was saved today. Benjamin Netanyahu and his government collapsed today, this is a total defeat for them.”

While exit polls are uncertain, with the final results unlikely to be conclusive until Thursday, he claimed for the anti-Netanyahu bloc: “We are the majority. In a democracy, the side that brings more votes – won. And it needs, it can and it is its duty to form a government.”

However, Lapid appeared to recognise a majority may be not available, saying: “The mission is clear: to form a Zionist government. It may not be perfect on day one, but we will strengthen it going forward.”

Opening the possibility of extensive ongoing negotiations, he added: “It may not be a broad coalition on day one, but we will expand it going forward.”

Paying tribute to his political partner, Lapid said: “I also want to say to my brother, Naftali Bennett: when we brought our parties together, no one believed it would last. I told everyone, ‘It will last, because it is built on trust and friendship.’ I am proud of you.”

He added: “We have a country to mend and a society to heal. We must restore the Israeli citizens' trust in the rule of law and in state institutions.”

11.10pm – ‘Draft-dodger coalition collapsed’ Bennett tells party
Former prime minister Nafatali Bennett’s hopes of resuming office appear remote, depending on how the numbers add up finally for the anti-Netanyahu bloc.

Bennett’s own party, B’yachad, appears set to claim only around a dozen seats if tonight’s exit polls are accurate, but he was in fiery form as he spoke to his supporters at their Tel Aviv headquarters shortly after midnight.

Claiming the country would soon see the back of Netanyahu, he said: “People of Israel, hold your heads high! The alliance of those who serve has defeated the alliance of draft dodgers.

"The people of Israel have risen and spoken: Netanyahu has lost, and the October 7 government is going home! The draft-dodging coalition has collapsed."

10.45pm - 'MIGA' hats spotted at Likud election HQ

Photographers from the Times of Israel have snapped supporters of Prime Minister Netanyahu sporting the Trump-inspired headwear bearing the slogan “Make Israel Great Again”.

Netanyahu himself borrowed another line from Trump earlier in the day, posting a video in which he claimed high turnout in Arab areas was part of an effort to “steal” the election.

Any such effort appears to have been unsuccessful, with Likud projected by most exit polls to emerge as the largest party in the Knesset, though not with enough seats to form a viable coalition government.

10.36pm - Bibiwatch as PM en route to Likud watch party

10.28pm – A preview of the next few months?

10.23pm – Vote counting begins

10.15pm - Aipac hails Israeli democracy

10.07pm – Ra’am leader claims figures from both coalitions have approached him as Arab parties projected to hold balance of power

“Everyone is speaking with us, not just from the ‘change bloc,'” said Mansour Abbas.

In an interview with Channel 12 he suggested he would be open to joining a coalition led by Yashar’s Gadi Eisenkot, as long as it was demonstrated to be viable.

Most exit polls have Ra’am and the other major Arab party, the Joint List, on a combined 17 seats, enough to tip the balance in favour of either Eisenkot or Prime Minister Netanyahu’s bloc.

9.54pm – No major incidents reported on polling day, police confirm

The national force said 20,000 officers had been deployed across the country but that voting had gone off “without significant unusual incidents”.

This came despite reports of isolated instances of violence at polling stations and the arrest of a man found in possession of a knife after allegedly approaching Democrats leader Yair Golan.

Police denied the party’s claim that the man had attempted to stab Golan, saying he had instead been stopped and searched in the area and arrested.

9.45pm – Charedi youths celebrate the projected results in Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Square

9.41pm – ‘The public has fired Netanyahu,’ claims Golan

The Democrats leader wrote on X that he is “ready to work with all our partners” to form a government, calling the projected result “a historic opportunity to establish a government of change in Israel, and we don’t intend to give it up”.

“The public has spoken, it has fired the Netanyahu government,” he added.

Golan has previously said he will not sit with the Charedi parties or Likud as long as Netanyahu remains its leader, but has not ruled out joining a coalition with the Arab parties.

9.25pm – What happens now?

Now that the flurry of exit polls has eased, attention is turning to the next phase of the election.

First, of course, the actual votes must be counted to give an official result.

If the results fall as most of the polls suggest, no coalition is likely to win an overall majority, but this process could take days, with soldiers’ votes not expected to be fully counted until Thursday.

President Isaac Herzog will then choose one of the candidates, usually the one with the highest number of endorsements, to form a government.

That begins a period of coalition negotiations and horse-trading until either a majority can be formed or Herzog gives a second candidate the opportunity.

If they then fail, fresh elections would likely be called around the end of the year.

Read our full explainer on the electoral system here.

9.17pm – Turnout approaching 80 per cent as final votes cast

As of 10pm IST (9pm GMT) turnout was 77.7 per cent, the highest since 1999,

However, it is the first measure taken since this afternoon not to breach the all-time record for the equivalent time set in 1973.

9.07pm – Lapid: Netanyahu’s bloc suffered ‘harsh defeat’

Beyachad’s co-leader reacted to the latest exit polls, which show neither coalition is likely to win an outright majority

“Don't let them confuse you: The Netanyahu bloc suffered a harsh defeat,” he wrote.

“This is a total collapse and the public told them to get lost and go home.”

9.03pm – Updated Channel 13 exit poll

The Arab parties gain one seat to 18, dropping Eisenkot bloc to 51

8.55pm – Eisenkot hails projected results despite failing to top Likud

“If these are the final results, this is a victory for Israel’s responsible Zionist majority,” the Yashar leader wrote on X after his coalition was predicted to win the most seats, even though his party fell short of his main rival’s.

He pledged to “implement the will of the people” and replace Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition with “a Zionist government committed to universal conscription as soon as possible.”

8.50pm – Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar slams ‘smugness of biased commentators’ after Likud projected to be largest party

8.48pm – Channel 12 updates exit poll

The new figures see the Democrats up to 10 seats and Yisrael Beiteinu down to nine, but no change in the bloc tallies.

8.31pm – Exit poll overview

8.21pm – The view on the ground from our Political Correspondent, Jane Prinsley

8.19pm – Channel 14 exit poll

The more conservative-leaning Channel 14’s full results have now come in:

Likud – 30

Yashar - 19

Beyachad – 11

Joint List – 10

In terms of blocs, it puts Netanyahu’s on 60 seats, one short of a majority, while Eisenkot’s falls to 43, with 17 seats for the Arab parties.

8.17pm – Kan exit poll

Meanwhile, Kan’s exit poll suggests an even weaker performance for Eisenkot:

Likud – 25

Yashar – 21

Beyachad – 14

Joint List – 10

But the blocs work out to the same figures as Channel 13’s

8.13pm – Channel 13 exit poll

A similar story over at Channel 13 with the following key results:

Likud – 25

Yashar – 23

Beyachad – 14

Joint List – 10

Eisenkot’s bloc is projected to win 53 seats to Netanyahu’s 50, with 17 going to the Arab parties.

8.05pm – Full Channel 12 exit poll

Channel 12’s exit poll backs up the projection of a Likud win, albeit with a narrower margin.

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s party is predicted to be the largest with 24 seats, followed by Yashar with 22.

Beyachad is set to come third with 12, closely followed by a stronger-than-expected performance for the Arab-Israeli Joint List on 11.

The remaining parties – the Democrats, Yisrael Beiteinu, Shas, Ra’am, Otzma Yehudit, Religious Zionism and United Torah Judaism - are all expected to achieve between six and nine seats.

However, neither Netanyahu’s coalition bloc nor that led by rival Gadi Eisenkot is projected to achieve a majority.

Eisenkot’s bloc is expected to win 52 seats, while Netanyahu’s is set to win 50.

The Arab-Israeli parties are set to hold the balance of power with a combined 18 seats, but both blocs contain parties which have vowed not to work with them.

8.02pm – First exit polls results show shock Likud lead

Channel 14 projects 30 seats for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s party, with challenger Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar on 19, in a stark reversal from the latest polling.

8pm – Polls close

Polls have now officially closed, though voting will continue for those already queuing.

7.55pm – First exit polls to air shortly

Five minutes before polls close, at which point the major TV networks will air their projections.

The CEC will also begin counting the official results so stay tuned.

7.42pm – In pictures: More party leaders cast their ballots

7.38pm – Some voters receive text urging them to ‘prevent a left-wing Arab government’

7.33pm – Segal: Arab voters accounting for half of record-breaking turnout surge

7.30pm – Half an hour until polls close

Voting is scheduled to finish at 10pm IST, though anyone still queuing at that time will be allowed to cast their ballot.

The first exit polls should be available shortly after the deadline, giving the first indication of the likely winner.

It comes after the CEC rejected a Likud request to extend voting hours (see 6.27pm).

7.23pm – Election authorities ease rules on spoiled ballots

The CEC has issued new guidance allowing ballots with visible defects to be counted as long as the voter’s preferred choice is clearly visible.

However, any ballot containing a defect that reveals the voter's identity, will be automatically disqualified.

“The guiding principle is to ensure that every voter’s vote is included in the results, and a ballot should only be invalidated when it cannot be accepted as valid," the committee said.

7.12pm – Turnout surpasses 2022 levels

Official data showed turnout reached 74.3 per cent by 8pm IST (6pm GMT), eclipsing the 70.6 per cent for the entirety of the last election.

There is some speculation that we could be on course for a final turnout figure somewhere in the 80’s.

7.06pm – UK-Israel relations won’t improve no matter the result, former ambassador tells the JC

A new Israeli government might enjoy a “short honeymoon”, he said, but would be unlikely to resolve the disagreements over Gaza and the West Bank, said Mark Regev, who served as Jerusalem’s man in London from 2016-2020.

“Never in history have UK-Israel relations been as bad as they are now,” he said.

Read the exclusive interview here.

6.51pm – Five key issues for the next government, whoever leads it

6.27pm – CEC denies Likud request for voting extension

“It was ruled that, as things stand, there is no justification for extending the voting hours," read the decision.

“The high national turnout figures in all populations testify to the public’s high involvement in the democratic process, and in these circumstances no need was found to extend the voting hours.”

Polls will now close at the scheduled time of 10pm this evening, with anyone queuing outside by that time allowed the time to cast their ballot.

Polling stations in the West Bank settlements, which are legal under Israeli law, will also close at 10pm following a power outage. Usually, sites serving fewer than 350 eligible voters, which include many settlements, close at 8pm.

6.15pm – ‘We need at least a 73% turnout in the Arab population to replace Netanyahu’

6.11pm – Election authorities to discuss Likud request for voting extension

The CEC said it was due to meet at 7.15 IST (5.15 GMT) to debate the proposal, which is also backed by Otzma Yehudit, Shas and People of Israel, but is opposed by Yashar.

If the motion is approved, voting could be extended by 24 hours until 10pm IST tomorrow.

However, the law usually only allows such an extension for individual polling stations affected by exceptional circumstances, rather than a blanket delay of the deadline.

The CEC has already guaranteed that anyone in line outside a polling station by the 10pm cut-off will be allowed to vote.

5.24pm – How the record turnout hurts smaller parties

5.22pm – 109-year-old Mahmoud Aql casts his vote

5.20pm – Netanyahu said to be courting Charedim amid warnings of flat right-wing turnout

5.17pm – Turnout continues to hit record highs

Latest data from the CEC shows turnout was 66.7 per cent at 6pm IST.

Yet again, this is the highest since records began, beating the joint record of 65.2 per cent set in 1973 and matched in 1988.

The number of votes cast thus far, 4.9 million, has now exceeded the entire number at the last elections in 2022

4.54pm – IDF turnout matches general strong trend

4.50pm – Could the surging Arab vote solve the Eisenkot-Liberman conundrum?

4.48pm – Head of major yeshiva makes rare public appearance to back United Torah Judaism

Rabbi Yehuda Ades of Yeshiva Kol Yaakov has been confined to his home for nearly a year due to ill health

4.40pm – Likud asks to extend voting, Yashar opposes

Prime Minister Netanyahu’s party has filed the request with the CEC, backed by Otzma Yehudit and Shas.

The party cited long queues at polling stations as turnout surges to a record high.

Yashar, which is expected to be the largest party in the Knesset, urged the committee to reject the request, claiming “no unusual incident has occurred that would justify” it.

However, the committee’s interim director general, Dan Levine, already confirmed earlier today that polling stations would be allowed to open beyond the 10pm deadline to allow those queuing outside to vote.

“We promise, everyone will vote,” he said.

“If there is a line at 10 pm, the polling stations will continue to operate until everyone who arrived by 10 pm has voted. There is no need to worry.”

4.33pm – Charedi participation reportedly looks flat as Arab vote drivers record turnout

4.30pm – ‘Maybe it's too late for me, but I want to vote for a better future,’ says 92-year-old Holocaust survivor

4.25pm – The roadblock Eisenkot faces on the route to power

4.21pm – Gerrer Rebbe pictured at polling station

4.07pm – British-Israeli former hostage Emily Damari casts her vote

4.05pm – Ra’am supporters arrive at Rahat polling station on horses and camels

3.59pm – ‘Netanyahu should never be underestimated’

Israel’s former spokesman at the UN, and JC contributor, Jonathan Harounoff gives his analysis of the contest between Benjamin Netanyahu and Gadi Eisenkot, and how US President Trump’s endorsement could boost the incumbent, during an appearance on Fox News.

3.53pm – ‘It really feels like lives are at stake in this election’
By JC Senior Reporter Daniel Ben-David, in Tel Aviv

Those were the words of Shai, an Orthodox rabbi volunteering at Gadi Eisenkot’s campaign headquarters in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, the day of Israel’s 26th national parliamentary election since the country’s founding in 1948.

“This one couldn’t be more important,” he said. “I’m overwhelmed. I’m extremely nervous. We are all nervous, all my friends, all my family, everyone I know.”

Shai is one of two dozen volunteers at the Yashar operations base on Shlomo Ibn Gabirol Street, not far from Hostage Square…

Read their stories here.

3.45pm – Turnout data for major cities vs Likud strongholds

3.38pm – The Israelis flying home to vote
By JC Political Correspondent Jane Prinsley, in Israel

Official estimates suggest around 70,000 Israelis have returned home to cast their ballots, as the country is one of a handful of democracies that do not allow absentee voting.

Read about Aaron and others like him here.

3.33pm – Heavy rain closes highways, impact on turnout unclear

Major roads and hiking trails in southern Israel have been closed by heavy rain as voting continues in the country’s general election.

So far, turnout has hit record levels, reaching 55.7 per cent by 4pm IST, but stormy conditions ahead of the evening rush hour could put a damper on events.

Among the worst hit, the city of Eilat is almost entirely closed to traffic, with only the road to and from Ramon International Airport in operation.

One nearby measuring station recorded up to 17mm of rain across just three hours, with downpours expected to intensify as they continue into the night, per the Israel Meteorological Service.

The CEC, though, has previously confirmed it will keep polling stations open beyond the 10pm deadline if voters are still queuing outside.

3.05pm – Turnout continues to hit record highs

2.59pm – Israelis describe the election in one word
By JC Senior Reporter Daniel Ben-David, in Tel Aviv

2.50pm – Betting markets give Netanyahu slimmest chance yet of remaining prime minister

US firm Polymarket suggests Israel’s longest-serving leader has just a 27 per cent chance of remaining in power, while Gaid Eisenkot has a 58 per cent chance of forming the next government.

2.44pm – Local turnout breakdown shows high motivation in Arab-Israeli neighbourhoods

The data reinforces right-wing fears of a strong turnout among the Arab population, which is likely to break strongly in favour of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s rivals, combined with weaker participation from the generally more conservative Charedim.

2.42pm – Shekel hits three-week high as voting continues

NIS is trading at USD 3.0419 after appreciating 1.2 per cent across election day.

That marks its strongest rate since October 6 of this year.

2.34pm – Could the weather have the final word on record early turnout?

Get the full story here.

2.29pm – Former hostages cast their votes

Keith and Aviva Siegel, who were abducted by Hamas on October 7 and held as hostages, have cast their ballots in the first general election since the attacks.

The couple were pictured voting together at a polling station in Gazit, northern Israel.

“To me, voting is about freedom, responsibility and hope for the future of our country,” Keith told Jewish Insider.

“After spending 484 days in captivity in Gaza, being free and having the right to vote carries a deeper meaning for me. Freedom is not something I take for granted.

“It means having a voice, being able to make choices, and having a say in the future of our country. I believe our leaders must prioritise human life, dignity, peace, and security.

“When I vote, I am exercising a right that I deeply value and expressing my hope that our children, grandchildren and future generations will live in a country where freedom, democracy and humanity prevail.”

Read their testimony here.

2.13pm – A mobile polling station for soldiers in Lebanon

As of 1pm IST (11am GMT) turnout among IDF soldiers stood at 48 per cent, up from 44 per cent in 2022.

Read the full story here.

2.05pm – Democrats activist ‘knocked unconscious’ at polling station

The left-wing party, which earlier claimed that a man had approached its leader, Yair Golan, with a knife, has shared footage apparently showing two of its activists being assaulted at a polling station in Holon.

One of the pair is reported to have been knocked unconscious after both were punched by an alleged assailant.

The party has claimed that the man was affiliated with Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s far-right Otzma Yehudit party, but this has not been verified.

“We will not allow anyone to disrupt the proper conduct of the elections, and we will not be deterred or intimidated by threats and attacks,” a spokesperson said.

Golan has paused his election day schedule to travel to Holon and meet the two activists, they confirmed.

1.04pm – Early turnout hits highest level ever

This marks the highest turnout ever at the equivalent time, beating the previous record held by Golda Meir’s re-election in 1973, after it was delayed by the Yom Kippur War, which is as far back as the CEC’s records go.

1.01pm – A reminder from the Foreign Ministry that polling day is a national holiday

12.54pm – Pensioner, 94, dies on return trip from polling station

Israel Kreis, a 94-year-old from Ramat Gan, suddenly died after insisting on going out to vote for Gadi Eisenkot, his daughter, Shirley told Ynet.

“I took him by car to vote, and on the way back, as soon as he got out of the car, he collapsed and died at the entrance to the building,” she said.

12.50pm – How voting works in Israel

Read the JC’s explainer on the voting system here.

12.44pm – A view from the ground in Jaffa

12.37pm – Czech prime minister reaffirms Israel friendship in election day message to Netanyahu

12.27pm – A ‘microcosm of Israeli democracy’ in Tel Aviv

12.24pm – Polling stations to stay open late if turnout remains high

Dan Levine, acting director-general of the CEC, has confirmed that polling stations will be allowed to remain open beyond 10pm if voters are still queuing outside.

“We promise, everyone will vote,” he said.

“If there is a line at 10 pm, the polling stations will continue to operate until everyone who arrived by 10 pm has voted. There is no need to worry.”

The announcement comes after early turnout hit its highest level since 1981 by 10am. By noon, two million votes had been cast.

Read the full story here.

12.19pm – Eisenkot casts his vote

Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot, the favourite to be the next prime minister, has cast his vote in Herzliya with his wife, Hannah.

“Taking Israel onto a new path. We will be worthy. I commit,” he wrote on X.

12.15pm – Analysis: Israelis want security, but who will deliver it?
By JC Political Correspondent Jane Prinsley, in Israel

If you want to understand what Israelis are voting for in this election, head to its borders.

I’ve spent the last three days traversing Israel’s boundaries as the country chooses its next parliament, voting for the first time since the October 7 massacre and the Gaza war.

In Metula, Israel’s northernmost village, locals have three seconds to take cover if a rocket launches from Kfarkela, the Hezbollah stronghold immediately across the Lebanese border.

From a vantage point overlooking southern Lebanon, piles of rubble mark where the Israeli army discovered Hezbollah tunnels, weapons caches and anti-tank missile launch sites. Thousands of soldiers deployed across that border in Lebanon, as well as in Syria and Gaza, have cast their ballots at military polling stations in enemy territory.

Everyone here is voting for security; what divides them is how it can be achieved and who should be trusted to deliver it…

Read the full piece here.

12.08pm – No evidence of systematic ballot tampering, say election authorities

The CEC has confirmed that it has seen “no indication” of systematic ballot tampering following formal complaints lodged by three parties.

Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar, Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu and Ofer Winter’s People of Israel have all lodged protests with the committee within hours of polls opening.

A CEC spokesperson said: “Contrary to claims circulating online, there are currently no indications of systematic tampering with ballot slips.”

They also urged voters to rely on the CEC’s official communication channels rather than social media.

Read the full story here.

12.01pm – Police confirm ‘no stabbing attempt’ on Democrats leader as man arrested with knife

The Israel Police have confirmed they arrested a man carrying a knife in Tel Aviv’s Park HaMesila this morning.

The Democrats party earlier claimed that the suspect had approached its leader, Yair Golan, who was out campaigning in the city, “in an intimidating manner”.

According to the party, the man was stopped by Golan’s security team, at which point a knife fell out of his hand and he was tackled to the ground.

Police said the man was stopped and searched “near a public figure” but that “contrary to reports, no stabbing attempt took place”.

11.53am – Film star Gal Gadot votes

11.50am – US ambassador to Israel hails elections, voter ID rules

11.47am – Elections proceeding smoothly says Shin Bet chief

“We can confidently tell the citizens of Israel that the elections are being monitored and conducted in a proper and inspiring manner,” said Shin Bet director David Zini

His remarks came despite complaints of alleged ballot tampering from three of the major parties.

Read the full story here.

11.31am – Reports of queues at polling stations

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11.13am – Voter turnout hits 30 per cent as two million votes cast
Two million votes have now been cast in Israel’s general election, the CEC has confirmed.

Voter turnout reached 30 per cent by noon after the 10am turnout figure was the highest since 1981.

Read the full story here.

11.11am – Three parties file complaints over alleged ballot tampering
Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar, Avigdor Liberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu and Ofer Winter’s People of Israel have all lodged complaints with the CEC over alleged ballot tampering within hours of polls opening.

People of Israel claimed that its ballots, marked with the letter Chaf, have been absent from some polling booths, while others were “turned over to make them appear to be blank ballots”.

It also alleged that there was an incident at one polling station in which a voter “attempted to remove” all of its ballots from the site.

Yisrael Beiteinu, meanwhile, said that one of its voters had reported receiving a partially-opened envelope with a ballot paper for Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud party already inside, which it claimed had been recorded in the official record by election staff.

And Yashar, which is leading the polls, made claims of “deliberate damage” and theft of its ballot papers and “extremely long lines” in its expected electoral strongholds, suggesting that access routes may have been blocked to suppress turnout.

Read the full story here.

10.33am – Early turnout the highest since 1981
Data released by Israel’s Central Elections Committee (CEC) shows early turnout is at its highest in more than 40 years.

By 10am IST (8am GMT) turnout had reached 16.7 per cent, with 1.2 million votes cast, up 0.8 per cent on 2022.

The last time it was this high was 1981, when the figure stood at 17 per cent ahead of Menachem Begin’s re-election.

Read the full story here.