Turnout in Israel's national election stood at 16.7% four hours after polls opened, FRANCE 24 reported, in a contest the outlet said would test Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership and Israel's political direction.
FRANCE 24 described it as the country's first national election since the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023. Voters are choosing the 120-seat Knesset, after which parties will seek to form a government.
EconoTimes previously examined the possible role of Arab Israeli turnout. Madad's Oct. 14 poll projected 15 seats for Arab parties and put both major blocs short of a majority; those were projections before voting. The Israel Democracy Institute calculated that Arab and Druze turnout was 53.2% in 2022, based on final election results. That figure covers Arab and Druze voters, not nationwide turnout in Tuesday's election.
The Central Elections Committee (CEC) lists Nov. 4 for publication of official results.
