Israelis say the most important thing to them in these elections is to come out with a government that will be able to stay in power for its full term as well as protect the country.
“That we actually get a government, and we don’t have to keep voting and voting, and we get people in there that actually do their job and do what they say,” one voter told CBN News.
“I hope it will be the last time. We need to stop to fight each other and to make the decision to be together,” said another voter.
Despite a general fatigue in the nation from five elections in less than four years, by midday on Tuesday, Israeli voter turnout at the polls was the highest that it has been since 1999, media reports said. Some 6,790,000 Israelis are eligible to vote this time, about 200,000 more than in the last election.
Israelis are casting their ballots for more than 35 political parties. About 10 of them will likely receive enough votes to claim seats in the upcoming 120-seat Knesset (parliament).
The leader of the party with the most seats is usually tasked with pulling together a coalition government with at least 61 seats. According to polls, former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party is expected to come out ahead. But the question is whether he will be able to cobble together enough parties to have a majority.
CBN News visited a Jerusalem polling station early in the day and asked voters who they are voting for and what’s the most important issue for them. Click above to hear what Israeli voters are saying.
The remainder of this article is available in its entirety at CBN