Despite War, Israel Goes To The Polls for Municipal Elections

By FrumNews.com

After a number of delays, due to the ongoing war in Gaza, municipal elections were held across Israel. As of 8 PM Israel time, 45% of eligible voters cast their ballots. This number does include IDF voting from combat zones and on base and police on duty.

The highest percentages of voting were recorded in Sajur with 80%, Kfar Manda with 78% and the Gilboa regional council with 70% of the vote. The largest cities had a turnup of at Bnei Brak at 51%, Ashdod at 39%, Tel Aviv at 35%, Haifa at 33%, and Be’er Sheva at 31%.

In the local authority elections, 24,910 candidates are running on 3,705 lists. 801 candidates are running for the position of head of the authority.

There are over 11,000 polling stations around the country in 242 regional authorities and they close at 10:00 PM (smaller polling stations were open till 8:00 PM). IDF soldiers and reservists who are in combat were able to vote early starting last week, today a total of 570 polling stations were open.

Soldiers were all allowed to vote, even in Khan Yunis, with dedicated mobile polling stations operated between the outposts on the front lines to reach all IDF soldiers and enable them to exercise their right to vote.

In Yerushalayim, incumbent mayor Moshe Leon is expected to be reelected with 70% of the vote. Hanoch Seibert was once again elected as mayor of Bnei Brak.

A number of notable close races took place. In Elad, Yehudah Butbul narrowly beat Yisrael Porush with 51% of the vote. In Netanya, Miriam Fierberg, the incumbent mayor, is expected to receive 51% of the vote. In Tel Aviv, early estimates show Ron Huldai with 46%, and Orna Barbivai has 35%, and Yuval Zellner getting 19%.

The mayoral race in Beit Shemesh is standing at Aliza Bloch with 38%, Moshe Abutbul with 33%, and Shmuel Greenberg with 29%.

Voting in Haifa is expected to go to a second round, with no candidate receiving a mandate. Yona Yahav and Dovid Etzyoni will face each other in a second round.

This post will be updated as more results become available.