Netanyahu and Smotrich Convene Emergency Meeting Amid High Arab Voter Turnout
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich held an emergency meeting due to high voter turnout in the Arab community, aiming to mobilize right-wing voters. Concerns are high within the Likud party about the impact of last-minute efforts, with turnout figures showing an increase compared to previous elections. Efforts are underway to reach voters for smaller parties and in specific communities, as the final election results remain uncertain until after polls close.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Netanyahu and Smotrich held an emergency meeting to boost right-wing voter turnout.
- High turnout in the Arab community is a key concern for right-wing parties.
- Likud fears last-minute efforts will only partially help due to voter complacency.
- Overall voter turnout is higher than in the previous election by 2 p.m.
- Parties worry about losing votes to smaller parties that may not pass the threshold.
- Final results will be clearer after polls close at 10 p.m. and exit polls are released.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich held an emergency meeting Tuesday following high voter turnout figures in the Arab community. The two leaders agreed to a joint effort to mobilize right-wing voters before polls close. They are expected to convene dozens of local authority heads to coordinate increased activity in the remaining hours until voting ends.
Earlier, Smotrich canceled the remainder of his polling station tour and urgently arrived at the Religious Zionism party headquarters for a special situation assessment. These efforts come amid significant concern within the Likud party. A Likud source reportedly estimated that last-minute motivational attempts would not bring a substantial change, comparing the situation to "the boy who cried wolf." The source added that "even the last-minute outcry will only help partially," and that currently, "there isn't even one encouraging sign."
The heightened pressure is due to unusually high turnout rates. By 2 p.m., 44.9% of eligible voters had cast ballots, compared to 38.9% at the same time in the previous election. Data from the election committee showed 36.9% turnout in Rahat, compared to 33.2% in Modi'in Illit, 28.4% in Bnei Brak, and 28.3% in Beitar Illit.
Channel 12 commentator Amit Segal noted significant increases in participation in center-left strongholds, with a more moderate rise among Likud voters and a slight decrease in the ultra-Orthodox public. However, these partial figures do not yet indicate vote distribution among parties. Both Likud and Religious Zionism also fear losing votes to smaller parties that may not pass the electoral threshold.
Netanyahu's senior advisor, Topaz Lok, called for reaching out to voters intending to support the parties of Ofer Vinter and Yaron Zelicha. This concern is amplified by the rising turnout, which increases the number of votes needed to pass the threshold. Religious Zionism also fears their joint list with Moshe Feiglin may receive fewer than six seats.
Netanyahu and Smotrich are now attempting to boost field operations, including phone calls to voters, reinforcing activists, and transferring forces to polling stations in the periphery, Judea, and Samaria. Netanyahu also addressed the ultra-Orthodox public in an interview, expressing concern over low turnout in their strongholds. The final picture remains unclear, with initial indications of the trends' impact on Knesset power dynamics only expected after polls close at 10 p.m. and the first exit polls are released.
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