Netanyahu and challenger Eisenkot vote in Israel legislative election

Israelis are voting in an election that many describe as the country's most consequential in recent history following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict in October 2023. The Central Elections Committee has reported the highest voter turnout since 1973 with close to 45% of eligible voters casting their ballots by 2pm.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara arrived at polling station in a Jerusalem school just after midday and prompted citizens to go out to "vote correctly" in large numbers to secure the Jewish state and security.

"This is a very moving and fateful moment," Netanyahu said, as he mounted attacks on Arab-led parties that he said were trying to "steal" the election from them. He referred to reports that three senior members of the Islamist Ra'am party were arrested by police "with envelopes of money."

His strongest challenger Gadi Eisenkot, who started the day visiting communities attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7, voted in Herziliya City north of Tel Aviv. People chanted "Our next prime minister!" when the leader of centrist Yashar party entered the room.

Eisenkot is heading a "change bloc" that aims to oust Netanyahu's government. He told supporters that "victory is not guaranteed" and that they are on perhaps "the most critical day since the founding of the state," while encouraging voters to ignore Netanyahu's "scare tactics."