Israel on its way to the polls: Elections to the 24th Knesset have begun

The elections for the 24th Knesset have begun: For the fourth time in the last two years, Israeli citizens are going to the polls today (Tuesday) to elect their representatives in the Knesset. More than 6.5 million eligible voters will be able to attend the polls and exercise their democratic right.

10:25

Opposition leader and chairman Yesh Atid Yair Lapid voted this morning, saying that “in the end it all boils down to two options, and only two options – or there is a big future or a government of darkness, racism and homophobia that will take the money of working people and pass it on to non-working people. “Do not work for the real public that keeps this country alive – the people who work, pay taxes, serve in the military.”

Meretz chairman MK Nitzan Horowitz also voted this morning and said at the ballot box that “Bibi prays that Meretz will not pass.” This is his only chance to reach 61. It must not be given to him. It is close and will be decided by individual votes. Meretz voters will determine the election results. These are the closest elections that have been here for years. If Meretz is inside, Netanyahu will not have a government with the dark. This is the most dramatic decision that has been made in the Israeli elections for many years. “

Blue and white chairman and Defense Minister Bnei Gantz voted and said that he “calls for going out to vote for the change bloc – otherwise there will be a different regime here and we will not be able to reach even a fifth election.”
He said, “Elections are a democratic celebration, but today we are not celebrating because the State of Israel is in a serious health, economic and social situation and these elections should have been spared. It is important that everyone goes to the polls, puts the right ballot, votes for the bloc “Five. There will be a different regime here. I call for order, to avoid violence and to respect everyone and their democratic right.”

10:00

For the first time in this election, polling stations were set up at Ben Gurion Airport. This morning, the polling station committee finished preparing the ballot boxes in Arm E at Ben Gurion Airport. The ballot box is for landers destined for isolation. The rest of those landing and recovering who are exempt from isolation will not vote at Ben Gurion Airport, nor will the air crews be allowed to vote at these polling stations.

On the first flight that landed this morning from Kiev only two passengers were allowed to vote. Additional flights will later land from Berlin and Frankfurt (Israir). Flights from Dubai and the United States will also land.

At the beginning of the week, following the High Court ruling, the restrictions on flights to which destinations could be operated to Israel were lifted and the daily passenger quota was limited to 3,000. In the last two days, passenger traffic was 7,000-8,000 people per day.

On March 22, 3,340 people entered Israel and 3,370 passengers left. Today, about 7,700 passengers are expected to pass through Ben Gurion Airport – about 2,600 will land and about 5,100 will take off.

9:55

New Hope has filed an urgent complaint with the Central Election Commission for systematic action to issue T ballots all over the country and in particular at the polling stations in Haifa, Yavne, Ramla and Sderot.

New Hope has issued designated vehicles with the addition of ballot papers in light of a sweeping national trend, according to Likud activists who take out new hope ballots from the polls.

New Hope Chairman Gideon Saar said at the ballot box that “New Hope is present for the first time for the test and election of Israeli citizens with a clear path and great hope for the future. This is an exciting and very important day for the citizens of Israel because today we have the opportunity to come out of a deadlock of two years with four election campaigns and make a change.

“The change depends on voting for note T for a new hope. All the other notes have not made a change in the last two years and cannot make a change. Only new hope can unite and connect and bring Israel to a better future.”

9:00

The chairman of the right-wing faction, MK Ayelet Shaked, voted this morning at the polling station near her home and called on citizens to go out and vote. She said, “This time we can put an end to this endless election loop.
Vote right and form a good right-wing government that cares about the citizens. “

8:30

At a press conference held by the chairman of the Labor Party, MK Merav Michaeli in Rabin Square, she said that “today we are starting and starting to rebuild the Labor Party and the State of Israel. So many have disappointed us in recent years. We can return the truth to politics. Let’s build our future “I came here because I pledge to continue Rabin Road.”

The chairman of Malafagt Yisrael Beiteinu, MK Avigdor Lieberman, voted this morning and called on the young operatives to go out and vote.

The chairman of the right-wing party continues the struggle for votes in the national religious sector and tweeted in the morning a picture of him putting on tefillin.

Our Father which art in heaven, the God of Israel, and his redeemer,
Blessed be the State of Israel, the beginning of the growth of our redemption.

Go out and keep our precious country,
Give me the strength to keep giving you, my people, everything.
Go out and vote for B! pic.twitter.com/Q33ARGYT0p

– Naftali Bennett Bennett (@naftalibennett) March 23, 2021

Due to the corona: Hundreds of polling stations were added

Since the elections to the 23rd Knesset, another 124,829,000 voters have been added, along with all those voters who have “stuck” in the country under the auspices of the Corona and will be able to exercise their democratic right. Due to the corona, hundreds more polling stations were added this time, and a total of 13,685 polling stations were opened all over the country this morning, of which about 340 polling stations for the sick and isolated.

Most polling stations are open to voters from 07:00 in the morning until 22:00 at night. In small localities with up to 350 voters (in accordance with the law), in hospitals, prisons and nursing homes, the polling stations are open from 08:00 in the morning until 20:00 in the evening.

The Central Election Commission estimates that about 12,000 patients and 39,000 isolated people will vote today. In addition, polling stations were opened this time in nursing homes and sheltered housing alongside the special polling stations in prisons and hospitals, 38 of them in the Corona wards. Four polling stations will probably also be set up at four Corona hotels, as well as four polling stations at Ben Gurion Airport.

The Central Election Committee, in cooperation with the Ministry of Transportation, will provide travel services on intercity public transportation on 630 lines, and on the Israel Railways, free of charge to the general public throughout the election day. Free travel began last night (Monday) from 20:00 until the end of public transportation today. For a list of intercity bus lines open for free travel, you can contact the Ministry of Transportation’s information center at 8787 *.

In the last election, a high percentage of votes was set in the Jewish sector, and experts estimate that it will remain similar this time as well. In Arab localities, on the other hand, the turnout is expected to be lower this time around, leaving parties with time during the day to try and persuade voters to go out and vote and perhaps try to raise the turnout.

President Reuven Rivlin is expected to vote at 10:30 a.m., and will immediately follow the work of the Knesset Central Election Commission.