One of the more intriguing newcomers to Israel’s election is The Haredi Public, a new ultra-Orthodox party challenging the decades-long political dominance of Shas and United Torah Judaism.
Led by Moti Leitner, deputy mayor of Beit Shemesh, the party is breaking with the traditional Haredi establishment on several key issues. While advocating continued exemptions from military service for full-time yeshiva students, it supports IDF enlistment for ultra-Orthodox men who are not studying, the introduction of core subjects such as English and mathematics into Haredi schools, and greater participation in the workforce.
In a historic first for Israeli ultra-Orthodox politics, the party has included women on its Knesset list. Dr Nechumi Yaffe, a political psychology researcher at Tel Aviv University and visiting scholar at Harvard Business School, is ranked third, while Ziva Glantz holds fourth place.
Yaffe, a former adviser on Haredi affairs to Israel’s National Security Council who helped mobilise ultra-Orthodox volunteers following the 7 October attacks, has revealed that she was forced to move house after receiving threatening messages over her political activities. She told Israel’s Channel 12 that she no longer discloses her address, fearing further intimidation.
Other party supporters have also reported threats and bullying, including alleged threats of dismissal from their jobs and the expulsion of their children from ultra-Orthodox schools.
The intimidation allegations have continued into election day, with party activists reporting that campaign stalls were vandalised outside polling stations in several ultra-Orthodox cities, including Bnei Brak and Beit Shemesh.
Despite mounting pressure from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who reportedly attempted to persuade Leitner to withdraw over concerns that his party could draw votes away from his political allies, Leitner has refused to abandon the race.
Although opinion polls have consistently placed The Haredi Public below the 3.25 percent electoral threshold, Leitner insists his party could deliver an election-night surprise. He argues that many potential supporters are reluctant to reveal their voting intentions for fear of social repercussions, creating a pool of so-called “shy voters” that traditional polls may be missing.
Whether those voters materialise at the ballot box remains to be seen. But the party’s emergence has already challenged some long-standing conventions of Israeli ultra-Orthodox politics.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and its ultra-Orthodox coalition partner Shas have asked Israel’s Central Elections Committee to extend voting hours beyond 10pm.
Likud did not give a reason for its request, while Shas cited record voter turnout and concerns that people waiting in queues could miss out on voting.
However, election officials have already confirmed that anyone still queuing at 10pm will be allowed to cast their ballot.
The town of Timorim in central Israel has recorded the country’s highest voter turnout so far, with 91.6 percent of eligible residents casting their ballots by 4pm.
According to the Central Elections Committee, several other small communities have also reported turnout above 75 percent.
Among larger cities, turnout reached 60.7 percent in Modiin, 60.3 per cent in Rosh Haayin and 60.6 per cent in the Bedouin city of Rahat.
Nationwide turnout stood at 55.7 per cent at 4pm.
Ra’am leader Mansour Abbas has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of spreading false claims about election fraud to encourage right-wing supporters to vote.
“Benjamin Netanyahu is lying and inciting against Ra’am, using it as a scare tactic to mobilize right-wing voters and drive them to the polls,” Abbas said in a video message.
His comments follow Netanyahu’s claims that Arab voters were “trying to steal the election” as turnout continues to rise across Israel.
Voter turnout in Israel’s general election reached 55.7 percent by 4pm, the highest ever recorded at that hour, according to the Central Elections Committee.
The figure is up from 47.5 percent at the same point in the 2022 election, an increase of 8.2 percentage points.
It marks the highest turnout at 4pm since hourly records began in 1973, with polling stations remaining open until 10pm.
US-based prediction market Polymarket puts Benjamin Netanyahu’s chances of remaining Israel’s prime minister after today’s election at 27 percent.
The platform gives opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot a 58 percent chance of becoming the next prime minister.
The figures reflect betting market activity rather than official polling or election results, and could change as voting continues.
The Israeli shekel has risen more than 1.2 per cent against the US dollar, reaching its strongest level in three weeks as voting continues in Israel’s general election.
The currency was trading at 3.0419 shekels to the dollar, its highest level since 6 October, according to The Times of Israel.
The rise comes amid record voter turnout, with millions of Israelis casting their ballots throughout the day.
Former Hamas hostages Keith and Aviva Siegel have cast their ballots in Israel’s first general election since the 7 October attacks.
The couple, who were both abducted by Hamas, 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.”
He added: “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.”
“Voting for the first time as an Israeli citizen is an extraordinary privilege and an enormous responsibility. Just 142 days ago, I made Aliyah, fulfilling a dream that generations of Jews could only imagine. Today, I have the privilege of helping determine the future of the Jewish state.
I have always believed that we are the luckiest Jews to have ever lived, and Israel is one of the greatest reasons why. But we are also its caretakers, responsible for ensuring that future generations inherit a strong Jewish state and a thriving Israeli democracy.
Casting my vote today was about honouring those who came before me and fulfilling my responsibility to those who will come after me. For my country, my land, and my people.”
The Arab-majority Joint List party has accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of inciting against Arab voters as Israelis head to the polls.
Party leader Yousef Jabareen criticised Netanyahu’s claims that Arab voters were “trying to steal the election” and urged supporters to turn out.
“Netanyahu, you continue to incite against Arab citizens and question our legitimacy to vote and influence the political map,” Jabareen said.
The party also accused Netanyahu of sharing AI-generated images presented as genuine polling station scenes, claiming they were intended to discourage Arab voters. The allegation has not been independently verified.
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