Israel election: Turnout at record levels at halfway stage

· DW

Almost 45% of the electorate had voted by 2 p.m., the highest share since such records began in 1973. The highly anticipated vote is expected to be a close-fought contest, and perhaps even a stalemate.

  • Israelis voting to elect Knesset
  • Israel election committee reports highest voter turnout on record as of 2 p.m., halfway through the voting day
  • Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, faces a staunch challenge to his grip on power
  • His chief rival is former military chief Gadi Eisenkot
  • Eisenkot's Yashar party has polled higher than Netanyahu's Likud party

Follow below for all the latest on the Israeli election on October 27, 2026, and its aftermath:

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