Israel's Election Eve Marked by Security Threats and Political Maneuvering

With just 24 hours until the 26th Knesset elections, Israel's political and security landscape is highly charged. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stern warning to Iran and its proxies against attempting to disrupt the elections with missile attacks, while simultaneously facing a legal dispute over his planned meeting with the Police Commissioner. In the right-wing bloc, a significant internal struggle is underway concerning Brigadier General (Res.) Ofer Winter's independent candidacy, as he refuses to withdraw despite pressure. Meanwhile, United Torah Judaism is maintaining an independent stance regarding future coalition negotiations.

Netanyahu expressed concerns about a potential surge in Arab voter turnout, citing projections that could lead to Arab parties winning 16-17 seats and altering the political map. Conversely, the Likud party is focusing on increasing Druze voter turnout, anticipating support due to Netanyahu's stance on the Druze in Syria. The Prime Minister framed the election as a choice between those who evade service and those who serve, and in a pre-election interview, he stated he had instructed Mossad and the IDF to work towards overthrowing the Iranian regime.

A legal controversy arose over a meeting between Netanyahu, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and Police Commissioner Danny Levi. An organization petitioned to prevent the meeting, arguing that political involvement in police preparations could compromise the election's integrity. While the petition was ultimately rejected, the Chairman of the Central Elections Committee, Judge Noam Sohlberg, cautioned against exceeding authority in election matters, clarifying that political figures cannot direct police on election integrity issues.

Ofer Winter, leading the "Amcha Israel" party, has vowed to continue his campaign, calling it a "historic protest vote" and accusing established political figures of spending millions to undermine his party. He urged supporters not to fear voting for a party that might not pass the electoral threshold, claiming internal research indicates significant support. The Likud, having failed to persuade Winter to withdraw, is now shifting its strategy to convince his potential voters that a vote for his party could harm the right-wing bloc's chances of securing a majority.

In other political developments, Rabbi Chaim Yosef David Abirjel, known as Rabbi HaChida, announced his support for the Otzma Yehudit party and Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, despite his party's prior agreement to withdraw from the race in exchange for concessions from the Likud. United Torah Judaism, through its chairman Yaakov Asher, signaled an independent path, criticizing Bezalel Smotrich and stating the party is "on the shelf" regarding coalition commitments. Moshe Gafni of Degel HaTorah also criticized the right-wing bloc, stating the left keeps its promises better than the right, particularly concerning the draft law and the status of Torah scholars.

The Central Elections Committee has finalized emergency procedures for election day, including measures for missile attacks, such as special ballot boxes for rapid collection in case of alarms. The committee has also mapped polling stations to ensure proximity to protected areas, as per Home Front Command guidelines, to maintain election continuity under security threats.