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Live blog: Israel election latest news and updates

Follow our live coverage for the latest developments, results and reaction as Israel votes.

Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot casts his ballot in Herzliya alongside his wife, Hannah, and family members. (Photo: Yashar)
Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot casts his ballot in Herzliya alongside his wife, Hannah, and family members. (Photo: Yashar)

30 complaints filed over suspected electoral fraud, reports

Ma’ariv reports that Israeli police are investigating nearly 30 complaints filed throughout election day (Tuesday), up until the evening, over suspected electoral fraud and voter impersonation at polling stations.

Following the complaints, police investigators moved swiftly to examine the allegations and determine whether any offences involving fraud or impersonation had been committed during voting.

Police stressed that the filing of a complaint does not necessarily mean that an offence has taken place, and that the investigations are intended to establish the facts and circumstances surrounding each reported incident.

The findings will also be submitted to Israel’s Central Elections Committee for review and any further action deemed necessary.

Report: three polling places in Arab town in the north close because 100% of eligible voters have voted

“There is a report in Israel that three polling places in an Arab town in the north have closed because 100% of eligible voters in those areas have voted. The numbers are absolutely astounding.”

Source: Senior Correspondent @owenalterman for i24 News English

Gadi Eisenkot tells voters: ‘choose enlistment over draft evasion’

Gadi Eisenkot
Gadi Eisenkot

Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of Yashar with Eisenkot, completed his visits to Tel Aviv and Ramat Gan alongside Yashar party list member and Ramat Gan Deputy Mayor Israel Zari: “With one hour until the polls close, I urge the public to choose enlistment over draft evasion, responsibility over evading responsibility, and commitment to citizens over political and personal commitments. This is about our future and the future of our children.”

How has October 7 shaped the votes of young Israelis casting their ballots for the first time?

At polling stations in Ashkelon, a southern Israeli city that has long been a Likud stronghold, many young Israelis arrived to cast their ballots for the first time.

For years, Ashkelon has been one of the Israeli cities most heavily targeted by rocket fire from Gaza. The October 7 attacks and the subsequent war also took a heavy toll on the city, with at least 41 of its residents killed.

Jewish News spoke to two young first-time voters whose political choices reflect different responses to the events of October 7.

Daria, 21, voted for a party belonging to the opposition’s so-called “change bloc”.

“I hope these elections will change things in Israel for the better. I’m trying to stay optimistic. I think October 7 affected my generation deeply. I don’t want to think about what happened that day. It was really traumatising. But I think it changed the way we look at politics.”

Shay, 19, voted for one of the parties in the current governing coalition.

“I really want a Right-wing government that will serve my needs and those of the State of Israel. October 7 has affected my vote and the votes of my friends. People might think that because we suffered so much on October 7 and experienced so many rocket sirens, it would turn us away from the Right. But no, it has actually strengthened our support for the Right. We believe it will bring a better future.”

Reports: Voter turnout stands at 74.3%.

Voter turnout as of 8:00 PM – 74.3%, higher than the final turnout in the previous elections.

Elections Committee: 70.1% voted in Modi’in, 55.3% in Jerusalem, 54.5% in Haifa and 58.6% in Tel Aviv

Source: Elections Committee

Voters complain of phone messages warning of ‘left-wing Arab government’

Voters are complaining of messages that briefly took over their phone screens, reading: “Last chance to prevent a left-wing Arab government. Go out and vote.”

Amit Segal N12

Source: Amit Segal, Chief political analyst, @N12News

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Israel’s Central Elections Committee rejects Likud’s request to extend voting hours beyond 10pm.

The committee’s leadership decided on Tuesday evening that polling stations would close as scheduled.

However, voters who join the queue before 10pm will still be allowed to cast their ballots after the official closing time.

Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party firmly opposesd Likud’s request to extend voting hours at polling stations.

According the party, “no exceptional incident has occurred that would justify granting this request, which is intended to lay the groundwork for allegations challenging the integrity of the election, continuing the lies Netanyahu has been spreading since this morning”.