Ballot stations close in Israel with highest voter turnout since 1999

JERUSALEM

Israeli polling stations closed late Tuesday after seeing the highest voter turnout for general elections since 1999, according to electoral authorities.

The high turnout came in the country’s fifth general elections in less than four years.

The Central Election Committee said that as of 8 p.m. (1800GMT), voter turnout was at 66.3% percent, with nearly 4.5 million people having already cast their ballots.

Polling stations closed at 10 p.m. (2000GMT). Around 6.7 million voters were eligible to cast ballots in Tuesday’s polls.

Despite the high turnout, the Democratic Front for Peace and Equality Party said Arab voter turnout was low. It did not, however, give an exact figure.

As former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aims to return to power, opinion polls indicate his right-wing Likud party could secure 60 seats in the 120-seat Knesset (parliament), one shy of an outright majority.

Prime Minister Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid Party is projected to finish second in a tight race.

The election results are set to be announced on Wednesday.

* Writing by Ahmed Asmar​​​​​​​