Ben-Gvir Rallies Voters on Beach Amid Election Day Turnout Concerns
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir made urgent appeals on election day, including from a beach in Bat Yam, urging right-wing voters to cast their ballots. He expressed concern over high turnout in Arab communities and low turnout in Haredi areas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also alleged election irregularities and pointed to high Arab sector turnout. The final hours saw intense efforts by parties to mobilize voters amid significant turnout gaps between different sectors.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir urged voters on a beach with a megaphone to cast ballots on election day.
- Ben-Gvir expressed concern over high turnout in Arab communities and low turnout in Haredi areas.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu alleged election attempts to "steal" votes and noted high Arab sector turnout.
- Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri warned of apathy in Haredi and right-wing strongholds.
- Overall voter turnout reached 55.7% by midday, with reports of high activity in Arab towns.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir made an urgent appeal to right-wing voters on Tuesday, visiting Riviera Beach in Bat Yam with a megaphone to encourage participation in the elections. He directly addressed beachgoers, urging them to vote and emphasizing the need for a victory for Israel. Ben-Gvir expressed alarm over high turnout in Arab communities like Rahat and Umm al-Fahm, stating, "The voting percentages in Rahat are crazy, in Umm al-Fahm are crazy!" He implored, "Whoever hasn't voted, go vote!" He also visited the entrance to Kafr Qasim, reiterating his concerns about Arab sector turnout and urging voters to support "Otzma Yehudit" to keep Israel "Jewish and Zionist" and out of the hands of Mansour Abbas and Ahmed Tibi.
The minister's dramatic beach visit occurred amid growing concern within the national camp over the overall high voter turnout recorded by midday, which stood at 55.7%. Reports indicated significant activity at polling stations in Arab towns and traditional center-left strongholds. Ben-Gvir, who voted earlier in Kiryat Arba with his wife Ayala, warned that a victory for the "other side" would lead to a government headed by Mansour Abbas.
Similar concerns were voiced by other political figures. A senior Haredi official told Kikar HaShabbat that Haredi voter turnout was at an unprecedented low, contrasting with sharp increases in other sectors. Shas Chairman Aryeh Deri also issued an emergency appeal, expressing deep worry about apathy in Haredi and right-wing strongholds, and noting that high turnout in left-wing and Arab communities was reminiscent of numbers not seen since 1977.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also issued a strong statement, alleging attempts to "steal the elections." He highlighted a police report about the seizure of cash envelopes from three Ra'am party members in the south, pointing out that Arab sector turnout in the south was significantly higher than in the Jewish sector. The intense efforts by party leaders in the final hours before polls closed reflected the high tension surrounding the expected results, with the right-wing camp attempting to mobilize its voters amidst significant turnout disparities between different sectors.
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