As election nears, Israelis fear polarization could spark violence

Israel's Oct. 27 election is approaching amid warnings from security officials, researchers, and lawmakers that political violence could erupt, with government ministers accused of stoking hostility toward Arab citizens and political opponents.

A 2023 judicial overhaul and the ongoing Gaza war have kept protests and tensions high, while incidents like the vandalism of Haaretz's and Channel 12's offices and 200,000-plus new gun licenses issued since October 2023 have fed fears of armed intimidation at the polls.

Researchers and lawmakers specifically warn of state-tolerated harassment aimed at suppressing Arab turnout, and one political scientist draws a direct comparison to Jan. 6, warning Netanyahu has adopted the playbook of pre-emptively claiming the vote will be rigged.

President Herzog, whose role is largely ceremonial, has issued public warnings that elections are 'not a civil war' — a sentence that should not need saying in a functioning democracy.

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