Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party has requested an extension of voting hours, citing the need for more time to mobilise its supporters amid record voter participation in parliamentary elections.
Israel’s Central Elections Committee said 44.9 per cent of eligible voters had cast their ballots during the first seven hours of polling, setting a new turnout record for that period.
More than 7.3 million people are eligible to vote for the 120-seat Knesset, with around five hours remaining before polls close at the time of the announcement.
Netanyahu has urged his supporters to vote in greater numbers, expressing concern over strong participation among Arab Israeli citizens, who account for about one-fifth of the population.
Mansour Abbas, leader of the United Arab List, accused Netanyahu of spreading falsehoods and inciting against his party.
Meanwhile, media reported that Likud had spent millions of shekels deploying observers at polling stations in Palestinian communities and was preparing to challenge the results if it lost.
The Central Elections Committee said it had not detected any irregularities so far.
Analysts say higher turnout among Arab Israeli voters could complicate Netanyahu’s efforts to secure a parliamentary majority and potentially strengthen opposition efforts to form a government.