Israeli Election Campaigns Intensify in Final Hours
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Israeli political parties engaged in a final, intensive campaign effort on the eve of elections, with leaders making public appearances, calls to voters, and social media appeals. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the Western Wall, while other party heads like Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, and Yair Golan held rallies and met with supporters across the country. Efforts focused on mobilizing specific voter bases, addressing campaign claims, and encouraging turnout.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Israeli political parties made final appeals to voters through rallies, calls, and social media on election eve.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu visited the Western Wall and emphasized victory and national success.
- Party leaders like Gadi Eisenkot and Naftali Bennett held public events and addressed supporters.
- The Joint List focused on increasing Arab voter turnout, while other parties targeted specific demographics.
- Parties reported on campaign activities, including last-minute mobilization efforts and addressing voter concerns.
With election day approaching, Israeli political parties are making a final push to mobilize voters through various means, including phone calls, rallies, and social media campaigns. Leaders are engaging in last-minute efforts across the country, from Tel Aviv bars to Beer Sheva and Kfar Qassem.
Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yesher! party, focused on post-election strategy and addressed claims of fraud related to messages circulated in his name. He also met with former comrades from the Golani Brigade and visited bars in Tel Aviv with activists. His party projected "Offices for Rent" onto the Likud headquarters. Eisenkot released a video message dedicated to fallen soldiers, including his son, stating, "The pain of war will never be erased, but this time there is another way."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spent his final campaign day sharpening messages, filming social media videos, and calling undecided voters. He planned to visit the Western Wall with his wife, Sara, and left a note there reading, "To the lives of IDF soldiers, our heroes, for victory over our enemies, for the success of our people - the Eternal One of Israel will not lie!"
Naftali Bennett, chairman of the Together party, held public meetings and site tours, including a visit to Beer Sheva and a gathering in Givatayim. He also visited bars in Tel Aviv and planned to go to the Western Wall with his wife, Gilat.
Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats, emphasized mobilizing liberal-democratic voters and differentiating his party from others in the "change bloc." He and other party members were seen in Tel Aviv trying to persuade voters. Golan criticized Eisenkot's campaign, calling it a "dangerous lie."
The Joint List intensified its field operations to increase voter turnout in the Arab community, using a bus campaign and targeting young first-time voters. They also appealed to Jewish citizens to vote for them. In Umm al-Fahm, a motorcade departed from the home of party chairman Youssef Jabareen.
Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, met with activists and made numerous calls to voters, stating, "We are fighting for every vote until the last moment." His party claimed to be targeted by a fake news campaign in Russian, allegedly impersonating the "Beiteinu" party and spreading false information about Lieberman failing to pass the electoral threshold.
Itamar Ben-Gvir, chairman of Otzma Yehudit, visited the Western Wall and the Temple Mount, a visit he downplayed compared to previous occasions. He also attended the funeral of right-wing activist Shפי Paz and planned a busy schedule of visits and live broadcasts in southern and peripheral cities.
United Torah Judaism focused on organizing community committees to monitor voter turnout and assist voters. MK Meir Porush met with various Hasidic groups, and city rabbis urged members to vote. The party also sent voice messages to kosher phone users emphasizing the importance of voting early.
Shas continued to echo rabbis' calls to vote and support the protection of Torah institutions. The party held meetings with activists and planned to operate a volunteer headquarters to encourage voters.
Bezalel Smotrich, chairman of the Religious Zionism party, visited the Western Wall and held a rally. His party announced that thousands of volunteers and 65 buses would operate across approximately 25 cities on election day.
Ra'am held election conferences, with Chairman Mansour Abbas setting a goal of eight mandates and emphasizing the party's role in advancing issues in the Arab community. Abbas advocated for coalition participation to influence future governments.
The "HaMiluimnikim VeHaKalkala" party focused on calls to undecided voters, with chairman Yoaz Hendel touring cities and visiting bars. The party aims to boost confidence in voting for them, based on internal polls.
Ofer Winter, chairman of Am Israel, toured the south and met with supporters. His party launched a widespread signage campaign in strategic areas, targeting religious-nationalist communities and mixed cities. Over 100 teams were set to operate in cities with high right-wing voter turnout.
Winter criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu, who had described him as a "problem for the right," stating, "The problem for the right is not that you didn't integrate Haredim into the IDF, not that you didn't defeat Hamas, not that Hezbollah is rearming... the problem for the right is Ofer Winter."
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