Israeli Election Countdown: Parties Scramble for Votes in Final Hours

With less than 100 hours until the Israeli elections, party leaders are making a final push to sway undecided voters. Most polls indicate that neither major bloc will secure the 61 seats needed to form a government, making voter turnout a critical factor. According to Polymarket, a major forecasting platform, Gadi Eisenkot, head of the National Unity party, has a 49% chance of forming the next government, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party has a 30% chance, showing a downward trend. Naftali Bennett, leader of Yamina, is on an upward trajectory with a 16% chance, and Avigdor Lieberman of Yisrael Beiteinu has a 3% chance.

Netanyahu's Likud is focusing its efforts on 20 key cities, including Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Be'er Sheva, where the party typically performs well. The party is coordinating visits and has established a joint operational headquarters with the Religious Zionism party to maximize turnout on election day, mobilizing hundreds of volunteers to ensure supporters reach the polls.

Eisenkot is also targeting cities within Likud's sphere of influence, aiming to suppress turnout for his rivals while boosting his own vote. Eilat, his hometown, is receiving significant attention and budget. His campaign is also emphasizing an "ethnic issue," appealing to voters with a shared dialect. Eisenkot plans to visit 40 "golden cities," including Dimona and Netanya, and is also making efforts to attract religious Zionist voters.

Bennett, experiencing a surge in polls, is focusing on undecided voters and has encouraged people to add him to their WhatsApp groups. Yamina has concentrated its budget on this "money time" period, targeting cities like the Krayot, Netanya, and Ashdod, as well as settlements in Judea and Samaria, where they have seen new support from former Likud strongholds.