Israelis Abroad Begin Voting for 26th Knesset

By דסק C14

Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba

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Hebrew · 18 newsrooms covering

Voting for Israel's 26th Knesset began Thursday at Israeli embassies and consulates worldwide, with President Yitzhak Herzog observing the process in Baku, Azerbaijan. Herzog encouraged all citizens to vote, emphasizing that elections are a celebration of democracy and not a civil war. The President highlighted the importance of participation for Israelis serving abroad. The voting abroad precedes the main election day in Israel.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Israelis serving abroad began voting for the 26th Knesset on Thursday.
President Yitzhak Herzog observed the start of voting at the Israeli Embassy in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Herzog urged all citizens to vote, calling elections a democratic celebration, not a civil war.
The President emphasized the importance of voting for Israelis stationed overseas.
Voting abroad commenced ahead of the main election day in Israel.

Israelis Abroad Begin Voting for 26th Knesset — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Voting for Israel's 26th Knesset commenced on Thursday with the opening of polling stations at Israeli missions worldwide. President Yitzhak Herzog, currently on a state visit to Azerbaijan, visited the Israeli Embassy in Baku to observe the voting process among the first to cast their ballots. He was accompanied by Israeli Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ronen Kraus.

The President emphasized the importance of participation in the elections and exercising democratic rights, even for Israelis serving abroad. "This is a very important moment in my diplomatic visit here in Azerbaijan. I get to see how the election campaign begins and how elections are actually held at Israel's missions abroad, here at the embassy in Baku," Herzog stated. "The country's representatives here are among the first in the world to vote in Israel's elections."

Herzog urged all Israeli citizens to exercise their right to vote and influence the country's future. Addressing the public tension surrounding the election campaign, he remarked, "These are very important elections after a rather difficult period for the State of Israel, and the main thing I want to say to all citizens of Israel is: elections are not a civil war." He added that elections are the democratic process through which citizens can impact their lives and determine the nation's direction.

Ambassador Kraus welcomed the start of voting at the embassy, stating, "It is an honor for us to host you here, and it is also an honor to be among the first to vote in the elections for the Knesset." He noted that the embassy staff and the country's envoys were happy to participate in the democratic process.