Channel 14 Host Calls Non-Voters 'Criminals' Amid High Turnout
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Channel 14 host Yinon Magal called non-voters "criminals" on election day, urging high turnout, especially among right-wing and Haredi voters. He warned against supporting small parties, citing record turnout figures, particularly in Arab and left-wing communities. Magal expressed concern that a "red-green alliance" could dominate if turnout among his base is low. The election saw 55.7% turnout by 4 PM, a record high for that hour.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Channel 14 host Yinon Magal labeled non-voters as "criminals" on election day.
- Magal urged right-wing and Haredi voters to participate, warning against small parties.
- He expressed concern over high turnout in Arab and left-wing communities.
- Voter turnout reached a record 55.7% by 4 PM, the highest since 1973.
- Magal warned of a "red-green alliance" if his base does not vote.
Yinon Magal, a host on Channel 14's 'HaPatriotim' program, released a strong video message on election day for the 26th Knesset, urging citizens to vote. Magal declared that anyone who does not vote, or who influences others not to vote, is a "criminal," emphasizing the critical juncture for Israel's future. He noted the "crazy" turnout figures, particularly among Arab citizens and in traditional left-wing strongholds, alongside what he described as high participation in left-wing areas.
Magal also cautioned right-wing voters against supporting smaller parties unlikely to pass the electoral threshold, specifically mentioning "Winter, Zehlikha, Noam, and the Haredi public." He asserted that with the current high turnout, these smaller parties are unlikely to succeed, urging support only for parties with a guaranteed chance of entering the Knesset. He argued that voter apathy, even due to dissatisfaction with political parties, is not a legitimate reason to abstain from voting.
He called on his supporters to vote for parties within the "religious bloc" that he believes will pass the threshold, framing the election as a necessity to "save the situation" and prevent a "red-green alliance" of the "progressive left and Arabs" from dominating the country. Magal also released a separate video encouraging the Haredi public to vote, warning them not to let "Kaplan and the Arabs" win.
These statements align with broader concerns within the right-wing bloc regarding potentially lower turnout among their supporters compared to increased participation in Arab and left-wing communities. As of 4:00 PM, the Central Elections Committee reported a 55.7% voter turnout, a record high for that hour since 1973, compared to 47.5% at the same time in the previous election. A higher turnout increases the number of votes required to pass the 3.25% electoral threshold. A clearer picture of which smaller parties might enter the Knesset is expected after polls close at 10:00 PM and initial exit polls are released.
