Israeli president calls on citizens to vote amid lowest turnout since 2009
Israeli political leaders were quick to cast their votes this morning for the fourth time in just two years and are encouraging the rest of the country to show up and do the same.
Israelis are voting today in the fourth round of elections in just two years. Incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is running for a fifth term in office. His main challengers are Yesh Atid leader Yair Lapid, New Hope leader and former Likud senior Gideon Saar and Yamina leader Naftali Bennett. Other opposing parties include Yisrael Beitenu, Labor, Meretz and the Joint List. Final polls conducted last Friday indicate a close race, with Netanyahu's Likud and the bloc of parties supporting his re-election struggling to secure a Knesset majority.
Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin called on Israeli citizens to exercise their democratic rights and vote this morning after voting himself at a polling station in Jerusalem near his residence.
"Go out and vote. I am doing this for the last time as president, but also as a very concerned citizen. The Knesset elections are the holy of holies of our democracy, but a fourth election campaign undermines the public's trust," stated the president.
Sources close to the president said two days ago that he won't promote the formation of a unity government after this election, as he did last time. Rivlin apparently considers the option unnecessary due to the multitude of parties that have emerged as major players. According to Israeli law, the president tasks the person most likely to assemble a majority coalition of 61 Knesset members with the mission of composing the new government.
