As Israelis go to the polls on Tuesday, they will find that the battle for final votes will continue throughout the day.
Voters in the Jewish State are, according to the latest polls, focused primarily on the skyrocketing cost of living, and of course on security (as always).
But as usual, there is great disagreement about how to address those issues.
Last-minute promises, threats, hand-wringing and in at least one case, possible sabotage took place in the 24 hours prior to the opening of the polls.
Voting slips that were to be used for the center-right Likud party have found to be invalid, twice, through printing errors that were only spotted after the fact.
In the first instance, the voting slip did not include the name of the party and its chairperson, which is supposed to be printed underneath the three-letter code, “Machal” that appear above.
The slips were reprinted, but with the name of the party chairperson – Benjamin Netanyahu – misspelled.
Netanyahu, who has served as prime minister for longer than anyone else in the history of the state, currently serves as Opposition leader.
A misprint automatically invalidates the vote of anyone using such ballot slips – and some of these invalid ballots have already made it to the polling stations.
Those planning to vote for the Likud during tomorrow’s election should make sure to check the ballot slip carefully BEFORE placing it in the blue envelope. The slip should list the Likud Party underneath the three-letter Hebrew code (MaCHaL) and also the name of party chairperson Benjamin Netanyahu – both spelled properly.
If you discover a damaged voting slip, or one that is missing, it is important to raise the issue immediately with the workers at the polling station. Do not use a damaged slip.
Damage can include paper that is bent, folded, torn, stained or written upon.
Noise from National Unity Camp, Meretz, Hadash-Ta’al
Defense Minister Benny Gantz, who heads the National Camp faction, issued a statement Monday urging “farmers facing agricultural terrorism, young people who serve the state and Zionists” not to let “extremism and populism kidnap you. Come home now because it will be too late on Wednesday. [Itamar] Ben Gvir and [Bezalel] Smotrich must not be allowed to burn the Middle East.” The two politicians united their Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism parties to create a joint list for the election.
The extreme-left Meretz party, for instance, has banned journalists and camera staff from Israel’s Channel 14 from entering its headquarters to report on the election due to its alleged right-wing orientation. An appeal by the channel to the High Court of Justice resulted in a ruling that the ban “infringes on freedom of expression, but nevertheless the High Court has no authority to intervene.”
The Israeli Arab Hadash-Ta’al faction has issued a statement claiming the fight against Israel by the Shechem-based “Lion’s Den” Palestinian Authority terrorist organization is not terrorism. “Fighting against military forces is a legitimate struggle,” according to MK Ofer Cassif, the only Jewish member of the faction.
According to Ynet, Cassif claimed the murder of 50-year-old Kiryat Arba resident Ronen Hanania in a terrorist attack earlier this week was not terrorism. “Don’t portray him as a simple man,” Cassif said. “Especially those that live as a bone in the throat [of the Palestinians”, they cannot be considered innocent civilians.
“I and my friends in Hadash have for years said that we support a nonviolent struggle, but that’s what happens in every place where there is occupation and repression; those who expect the occupied and repressed to just sit and do nothing are lying to themselves.”
