Israel’s elections see highest voter turnout since 1999

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israel’s legislative elections registered the highest voter turnout since 1999, according to the country’s electoral committee on Tuesday.

Israeli voters began on Tuesday to cast ballots in the country’s 5th legislative elections in less than four years.

The Central Election Committee said as of 2 p.m. (1200 GMT) voter turnout was at 38.9 percent, with 2,638,581 people having already cast their ballots. That represents the highest voter turnout in an Israeli election since 1999 when voter turnout reached 41.3%.

Despite the high turnout, the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality Party said Arab voter turnout was low. It, however, did not give an exact figure.

Polling stations are set to close at 10 p.m. (2000 GMT). Around 6.7 million voters are eligible to cast ballots in Tuesday’s polls.

As former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aims to return to power, opinion polls indicate his right-wing Likud party could secure 60 seats in the 120-seat Knesset (Israel’s parliament), one shy of an outright majority.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid Party is projected to finish second in a tight race.

The election results will be announced on Wednesday.

* Writing by Ahmed Asmar