The Likud on Tuesday submitted a formal request to the Central Elections Committee (CEC) for voting hours to be extended, providing no reason for the request.
Shas, the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) party, joined Likud's request for an hour-long extension, citing congested polling stations nationwide.
"I am very concerned about the apathy in the Haredi and right-wing strongholds," said Shas Chairman Arye Deri in a Tuesday statement. "The high voter turnout in the strongholds of the Left and in the Arab sector is deeply worrying."
"According to the data we have, numbers like these have not been seen since 1973."
"There are massive lines at polling stations in Bedouin communities in the Negev and in Tel Aviv, yet, regrettably, in our own camp, among the Haredi and right-wing strongholds, there is a sense of complacency," Deri said.
Decision can only be made by Sohlberg
Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli media reported that the weather could also play a factor in the debate as to whether or not voting hours would be extended.
The decision can only be made by CEC Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg.
The Yashar party, headed by Gadi Eisenkot, opposed Likud's request to extend voting hours in its own statement.
"No unusual incident has occurred to justify granting this request," the party stated, "which is intended to lay the groundwork for claims challenging the integrity of the election, in line with the lies Netanyahu has been spreading since this morning."
Follow us on GoogleSource: The Jerusalem Post · MAARIV, JERUSALEM POST STAFF
At a glance
- Topic
- Politics
- Country
- 🇮🇱 IL
- Publisher language
- EN
- Added to Allnira