Falcon29
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Israel votes: Gantz and Netanyahu cast their ballots in tight Knesset race
PM was the last of the high-profile candidates to vote, with his main challenger making early morning appearance at polling station in his Rosh HaAyin hometown; voter turnout so far appears lower than in 2015 election
Leaders of the main political parties in Israel came out Tuesday to exercise their voting rights in their respective hometowns, in what is expected to be a close contest between the ruling Likud and Blue and White party. Voter turnout by 2pm appears to be lower than in 2015 elections, and currently stands at 35.8 percent.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - who earlier took to social media to directly address the voters - cast his vote in a polling station near the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem.
Netanyahu and his main challenger Gantz cast their votes (Photo: Yael Friedson, Reuters)
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"Voting is a holy act, the very essence of democracy," Netanyahu said at the polling station, where he arrived with his wife Sara.
When asked about the issue of hidden cameras being placed by Likud supporters in Arab polling stations, the prime minister said surveillance cameras “should be everywhere to ensure a kosher voting process."
The premier’s main challenger, former military chief Benny Gantz has also cast his ballot, calling for a "new dawn, a new history" for the country. Gantz voted earlier in his hometown of Rosh Haayin in central Israel alongside his wife, Revital. He called on all Israelis to get out and vote, saying they should "take responsibility" for their democracy.
Gantz's Blue and White party colleague, Yair Lapid, claimed that his party is "just a step away from victory … We need two more seats to win these historic elections in Israel. A vote for any party except Blue and White is a vote for Netanyahu."
Gantz meets with supporters in Ashdod after casting his vote (Photo: Avi Roccah)
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President Reuven Rivlin also voted in the Yefe Nof school in Jerusalem and called on all Israelis to go out and exercise their right to vote. “Neither the president, the party leaders or the prime minister will decide the next government. The only people who decide who will be the next government and prime minister are you,” he said.
“For 50 years, my wife and I have voted together. I hope and pray, and am sure, that we will do it together again next time, here near our home,” Rivlin added referring to the recent hospitalization of his wife following a lung transplant.
Rivlin at the polling station (Photo: GPO)
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Netanyahu’s potential coalition partners - leaders of the New Right party - Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked also voted early Tuesday.
Bennett voting in Raanana (Photo: Nimrod Glickman)
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“These elections are about one thing - will Israel go back to winning ways? Will Israel support its soldiers even if they make mistakes sometimes,” Bennet said at a polling station in Raanana. “Will we defeat the enemy, and become united - everyone - religious and secular. Our nation is wonderful and today, with the New Right, we’ll go back to winning ways.”
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https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5491680,00.html
PM was the last of the high-profile candidates to vote, with his main challenger making early morning appearance at polling station in his Rosh HaAyin hometown; voter turnout so far appears lower than in 2015 election
Leaders of the main political parties in Israel came out Tuesday to exercise their voting rights in their respective hometowns, in what is expected to be a close contest between the ruling Likud and Blue and White party. Voter turnout by 2pm appears to be lower than in 2015 elections, and currently stands at 35.8 percent.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - who earlier took to social media to directly address the voters - cast his vote in a polling station near the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem.
Netanyahu and his main challenger Gantz cast their votes (Photo: Yael Friedson, Reuters)
..
..
"Voting is a holy act, the very essence of democracy," Netanyahu said at the polling station, where he arrived with his wife Sara.
When asked about the issue of hidden cameras being placed by Likud supporters in Arab polling stations, the prime minister said surveillance cameras “should be everywhere to ensure a kosher voting process."
The premier’s main challenger, former military chief Benny Gantz has also cast his ballot, calling for a "new dawn, a new history" for the country. Gantz voted earlier in his hometown of Rosh Haayin in central Israel alongside his wife, Revital. He called on all Israelis to get out and vote, saying they should "take responsibility" for their democracy.
Gantz's Blue and White party colleague, Yair Lapid, claimed that his party is "just a step away from victory … We need two more seats to win these historic elections in Israel. A vote for any party except Blue and White is a vote for Netanyahu."
Gantz meets with supporters in Ashdod after casting his vote (Photo: Avi Roccah)
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President Reuven Rivlin also voted in the Yefe Nof school in Jerusalem and called on all Israelis to go out and exercise their right to vote. “Neither the president, the party leaders or the prime minister will decide the next government. The only people who decide who will be the next government and prime minister are you,” he said.
“For 50 years, my wife and I have voted together. I hope and pray, and am sure, that we will do it together again next time, here near our home,” Rivlin added referring to the recent hospitalization of his wife following a lung transplant.
Rivlin at the polling station (Photo: GPO)
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Netanyahu’s potential coalition partners - leaders of the New Right party - Naftali Bennett and Ayelet Shaked also voted early Tuesday.
Bennett voting in Raanana (Photo: Nimrod Glickman)
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..
“These elections are about one thing - will Israel go back to winning ways? Will Israel support its soldiers even if they make mistakes sometimes,” Bennet said at a polling station in Raanana. “Will we defeat the enemy, and become united - everyone - religious and secular. Our nation is wonderful and today, with the New Right, we’ll go back to winning ways.”
...
...
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5491680,00.html
