Significant turnout in Arab towns...long lines and right-wing observers in the Knesset elections

Tel Aviv - Ofoq News - Election Day activities for the twenty-sixth Knesset officially kicked off this morning, with the participation of 7,331,981 eligible voters in Israel. 12,018 polling centers were equipped across the country, 18,000 ballot boxes, and 6,209 polling centers were equipped for people with special needs, including 3,621 polling centers specially equipped for them.

On Tuesday, Arab towns witnessed a remarkable turnout at the ballot boxes with the start of voting for the 26th Knesset elections, as voters flocked to the voting centers since seven in the morning, coinciding with an intense presence of Jewish observers, including representatives of far-right parties.

Three hours after the opening of polling stations today (Tuesday) at exactly seven in the morning, several locations throughout Israel are witnessing a heavy turnout.

In northern Tel Aviv, Ramat Aviv, and the city center, long queues were recorded since the morning, extending beyond the polling station buildings. There were also reports of unusual crowding at several polling stations in Weizman Street, Ramat Aviv G, and the City Square area. Field activists report a large influx of voters since the opening hours.

Field evidence indicates that the Arab sector is also showing signs of prosperity. In the northern regions of the country and the Triangle region, long queues are recorded that have not been witnessed in recent election campaigns. In large cities and small villages, high voter turnout is recorded, indicating an organized effort to increase participation.

The Likud and Religious Zionism parties had announced their intention to deploy about two thousand observers at ballot boxes in Arab towns and mixed cities, in a move that raised criticism and fears that the presence of armed representatives of the parties would contribute to deterring voters from participating or causing confrontations inside the voting centers.

In the same context, the Israeli Supreme Court rejected the petition submitted by the Adalah Center and the Joint List, which requested that poll workers be prohibited from carrying weapons inside them during the elections.

These developments come in light of anticipation of the level of Arab participation in the elections, amid partisan and societal calls for early voting.

The Joint List explained that male and female voters may find in some ballot boxes two cards bearing the name of the list, one in Arabic and Hebrew, and the other in Hebrew only, confirming that both cards are valid and valid for voting.

The list called on voters to ensure that the card they choose is free of any marks or confusion, and is identical to the official approved cards.

The Joint List urged the electorate to participate in the vote, and said, “We can decide it with our own hands and bring down the government of Netanyahu, Ben Gvir, and Smotrich.”