Israelis vote in elections

Israeli political parties are competing for the ultra-Orthodox Jewish vote one week before upcoming elections. According to Giorgio Bernardelli of ZENIT News Agency, polling suggests neither Benjamin Netanyahu nor the Zionist alternative led by former general Gadi Eisenkot is likely to secure the 61 seats required for a majority in the Knesset.

The Haredim, who make up approximately 14 percent of the Israeli population, are considered a highly cohesive voting group. Data from the Israel Democracy Institute shows that in the 2022 elections, 86 percent of Haredi votes went to the two primary religious parties: Shas, representing Sephardic Jews, and United Torah Judaism, an alliance of Ashkenazi groups. In that election, Shas received 8.25 percent of the vote and 11 seats, while United Torah Judaism received 5.88 percent and seven seats.

The election outcome may also depend on the Arab population, as voter turnout is expected to be higher than in previous contests. The United Arab List and Ra’am are projected to win a significant number of seats, making it difficult to form a coalition against Netanyahu without their support.