Israeli Parties Intensify Final Push to Mobilize Voters Ahead of Election Day

Israeli political parties engaged in a final, intensive effort to rally voters in the hours leading up to the opening of polling stations on Tuesday morning for the 26th Knesset elections. Parties focused on reaching undecided voters and boosting turnout through field tours, phone calls, voice messages, and events across cities and towns. Polling stations are set to open at 7 AM, with parties concentrating their last-day campaigns on mobilizing supporters and ensuring their arrival at the ballot boxes amid a nationwide competition for votes.

Gadi Eisenkot, head of the "Yashar" party, contacted undecided voters and met with former colleagues from the "Egoz" unit of the Golani Brigade, later touring Tel Aviv bars with activists. He shared a video message to soldiers, recalling his son Gal and nephews Maor and Yogev, who fell in war, stating they inspire him and that while the pain of war remains, there is a different path forward. Naftali Bennett, leader of the "Achinu" party, dedicated his final day to field meetings, video recordings, and calls to undecided voters. His tour included Beersheba, Givatayim, and Herzliya, concluding with a late-night tour of Tel Aviv bars. Bennett is scheduled to vote in Ra'anana on election day before visiting several cities to encourage participation.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu focused his final campaign hours on social media messages, calls to undecided voters, video recordings, and media interviews. He and his wife Sara visited the Western Wall, where he left a message praising IDF soldiers and praying for victory. Netanyahu responded to a question about the lack of an Ethiopian-Israeli candidate with realistic chances on the Likud list by stating he is the candidate who has practically worked for the immigration of Ethiopian Jews to Israel. He is expected to vote in Jerusalem on election day and then tour several cities to monitor voter mobilization efforts.

The "Democrats" party, led by Yair Golan, concentrated on mobilizing liberal and democratic voters, aiming to differentiate itself within its political bloc. Golan and other Knesset members toured Tel Aviv streets, urging support for the party. Golan stated that the struggles of the party's supporters over the past four years should be reflected in the Knesset and government, criticizing Eisenkot's call for the largest party as a mistake and advocating for strengthening their political bloc. The Joint List intensified its field activities to increase Arab voter turnout, launching a bus tour in Tel Aviv and sending messages to Arab voters, especially first-time young voters, and also encouraging Jewish voters to support them. In Umm al-Fahm, a motorcade departed from the home of Joint List head Yousef Jabareen as part of election preparations.

Avigdor Lieberman, head of "Yisrael Beiteinu," met with activists and contacted voters, emphasizing his party's continued efforts until the last moment. His party reported receiving thousands of WhatsApp messages in Russian, originating from Indian and Swedish numbers, urging people not to vote for Lieberman, claiming his party would not pass the electoral threshold. The party accused parties of impersonation and misinformation and demanded an investigation into the source of these messages. Itamar Ben-Gvir, head of "Otzma Yehudit," visited the Western Wall and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, attended a funeral, and toured southern cities, engaging with residents and conducting live social media broadcasts. Bezalel Smotrich, head of "Religious Zionism," visited the Western Wall with his father and held an election conference, with thousands of volunteers and 65 buses mobilized in approximately 25 cities.

Haredi parties "Yahadut HaTorah" and "Shas" continued their mobilization efforts through local networks, phone calls, and voice messages, with rabbis urging participation. "Yahadut HaTorah" coordinated campaign headquarters in Haredi communities to track voters needing assistance, while "Shas" disseminated rabbis' calls to vote, emphasizing the necessity of participation to protect Haredi religious and educational institutions. Mansour Abbas, head of the United Arab List, held election meetings and advocated for supporting the list, aiming for eight Knesset seats. He defended participation in government coalitions as a means to influence policy, contrasting it with opposition as a mere protest. Other lists, including "Reservists and Economy" led by Yoaz Hendel and "Your People Israel" led by Ofer Winter, also intensified their final outreach efforts.