Man arrested near Yair Golan with knife; 2 Democrats activists punched; Man swears at father of slain soldier Itay Chen; Haredi candidate accosted, says kids were harassed at home
Israelis in West Bank communities tell reporters they used to vote for PM, but soured on him after Oct. 7 attack, feel Smotrich, Ben Gvir 'won't let this happen'
Entrance to southernmost city of Eilat blocked; authorities warn against driving or hiking in affected areas due to fear of flash floods; weather expected to worsen as night falls
The aftermath of October 7, 2023, and subsequent political discord drives changing voting patterns in southern Israel, from communities attacked during massacre to Bedouin hamlets
74.3% of eligible voters cast ballots by 8 p.m., highest since 1988 at that hour; pointing to Arabs and the left, Netanyahu says 'they're trying to steal election,' while Eisenkot accuses him of trying to 'lay groundwork' to contest results
Many members of the ultra-Orthodox community see casting a ballot as a religious duty, even as some denounce the process: 'Whatever happens is in God's hands'
Gathering in Tel Aviv, families of those killed or taken hostage call on Israelis to exercise right to vote in memory of those who can't; father of slain soldier Itay Chen accosted in Netanya
Accepting Bar-Ilan University honorary doctorate, actress speaks of 'opportunity to make a difference' at the ballot box; 'No matter how far I travel, Israel's always my home,' she says
Netanyahu claims to be an honorary Ethiopian, visits Jerusalem holy site; Eisenkot and Bennett raise a glass with voters in Tel Aviv; Ben Gvir ascends Temple Mount; Arab, ultra-Orthodox parties urge voter turnout
'Israel is on the verge of an abyss,' says one of tens of thousands of Israelis who spent thousands of dollars to return to Israel for the election; 'we need to bring back sanity'
Party sources claim concern over possible voter fraud in Arab sector, say discussions have been held about contesting results in similar manner to Trump's 2020 'rigged elections' campaign
While platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi are meant 'to aggregate the wisdom of the crowd,' professor warns that a few 'relatively large players' are 'putting up very large sums'
With neither bloc assured of a majority, here's how Israel's electoral system works, what could decide the election, and how Netanyahu could remain in power -- even if he loses
Over 80% of young Israelis have said they would 'definitely' vote in election, with their time in the army since Oct. 7 or upcoming conscription potentially impacting their decision
Campaigning on universal draft and 'voluntary emigration' from Gaza, the retired IDF general hopes to parlay a modest win into a top position. First he must pass the electoral threshold
Many Israelis fed up with PM are also not big on his rivals, with pollster predicting around 25% of those voting are late deciders who 'will definitely have an effect' on the outcome
Despite major headwinds, analysts predict PM could still retain power, citing centrality of 'identity politics' and the opposition's failure to capitalize on public anger over Oct. 7
One in 10 residents of Be'eri were murdered in the Oct. 7 Hamas invasion; many feel the catastrophe must be probed by top-level commission, which the PM has refused to set up
Liberman has floated recruiting Likud MKs to help form government without Netanyahu, but strict legislation threatens to complicate any attempt to cross political lines