Status of Israel's election as exit polling reveals a divided nation

Tens of thousands of volunteers mobilized to monitor polling stations and prevent various "dirty tricks," utilizing networks established during the judicial overhaul protests and following the October 7 attacks, according to Haaretz.

Exit polls published by Channels 11, 12, and 13 on Tuesday night projected that three new parties polling near the electoral threshold would fail to enter the Knesset. These parties include People of Israel, led by former IDF Brig.-Gen. Ofer Winter; the Reservists-Economic Party, led by former communications minister Yoaz Hendel and economist Yaron Zelekha; and Haredi Public, led by Moti Leitner. All three were projected to fall short of the 3.25% threshold required for parliamentary entry.

People of Israel campaigned on a right-wing security platform calling for tougher action against Hamas and increased ultra-Orthodox military service, with Winter identifying as part of Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc. The Reservists-Economic Party focused on economic challenges and expanding military service to include more ultra-Orthodox Israelis. Meanwhile, Haredi Public sought to represent the Haredi public as an alternative to Shas and United Torah Judaism.

Brief written by urgent.news from Haaretz, Jerusalem Post — 2 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.