Israel's army to set up polling stations in occupied Gaza, Lebanon and Syria

The Israeli army is planning to establish polling stations in the occupied territories of Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria in preparation for the upcoming general election on October 27. This move, as reported by Army Radio, aims to allow soldiers deployed beyond Israel's internationally recognized borders to vote in the election. Israel's Chief of Army Staff, Eyal Zamir, has ordered military officials to facilitate voting for these soldiers in "enemy territory," which includes Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.

The Central Elections Committee has approved regulations permitting soldiers to cast their ballots from military positions in these areas. However, as soldiers are not allowed to carry identity cards into Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, they will be identified using their service numbers and verified by another soldier.

According to the Israel Democracy Institute, approximately 425,000 Israelis voted at special polling stations during the March 2021 election, including security service members, diplomats, hospital patients, and prisoners. It is believed that young military personnel and those who voted for right-wing parties benefited most from this voting option.

The army has emphasized maintaining its political neutrality, with Zamir instructing commanders to prevent soldiers from campaigning for political parties. While the number of polling stations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria remains undisclosed, this initiative marks a departure from previous practices, as Israeli military personnel have traditionally voted at military bases in the occupied West Bank.