Netanyahu voted, the highest voter turnout in history was recorded in Israel this afternoon

The Israeli parliamentary elections saw a record voter turnout of 44.9% by 2 PM, surpassing the previous election's figures. The military voting locations reported a 48% participation rate. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu encouraged citizens to vote after casting his ballot in Jerusalem. However, there were reports of missing Arabic ballots in Arab-majority districts. Long queues formed due to high turnout, prompting the election committee to allow two voters in the polling station at once. A security incident occurred when a man approached a party leader with a knife, leading to an investigation. The elections are seen as a competitive race, with Arab parties potentially influencing the outcome.