Posted on 03/22/21
Jerusalem, Israel - Mar. 22, 2021 - On Monday afternoon on the eve of the Israeli Knesset elections, the fourth in two years, a presentation sponsored by the Government Press Office, Jerusalem Press Club, and Bar Ilan University was held on Zoom for international journalists.
Dean Livne Legal Advisor to Knesset Central Elections Committee presented details on the logistics of the election being held with COVID-19 limitations and concerns. Special cars are to be provided for transporting people currently ill with the virus. Details were explained on transportation to those who are in quarantine. For control of crowd size, 1,100 new polling stations were added for the Tuesday election day.
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According to Prof. Eytan Gilboa, Founding Director, Center for International Communications, Bar-Ilan University, an expert on international communication, public diplomacy, and US policy in the Middle East the election is between those who are for Benjamin Netanyahu or those who oppose him. There is nothing on foreign policy or ideology, left and right have blurred. The slogans have changed recently to "for change" instead of "anti-Bibi."
Fake accounts and text messages without a source are concerns of Dr. Sharon Haleva-Amir from the School of Communication, Bar-Ilan University, an expert on e-Politics and digital campaigns. Using social media platforms political parties and supporters are able to directly reach potential voters. Telegram, Facebook Live, WhatsApp, Clubhouse, TikTok even Tinder have been used to engage young voters and circumvent traditional media. The internet is a No Man's Land, without electoral law enforcement, a void filled with Mindgames.
Tuesday, Election Day is a national holiday, offices and schools are closed. The results cannot be accurately projected on the eve of this election. It will be interesting to see which parties do not reach the 3.25% threshold. The number of votes will depend on voter turnout. Will the Israeli public come out in greater numbers or will voter fatigue be an issue. Whoever has the most votes will need coalition partners to form a government. On election eve the prospect of a 5th election is one of the possible outcomes..
