Israelis shatter turnout records to pass wartime judgement on Bibi

File photo: Supporters of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu celebrate at Likud party headquarters in Jerusalem following the release of the first exit poll results in Israel's general election Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 Israelis surged to the polls Tuesday at a pace that shattered records, to pass wartime judgment on PM Benjamin Netanyahu in what voters described as the most consequential election in the nation’s history. Long queues formed outside polling stations for the first election since the Oct 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks, with voters engaged over the trauma of the country’s deadliest day and the ensuing wars in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.The Central Elections Committee reported that 66.7% of eligible voters had already cast their ballots within the first nine hours of voting, a record by that point in the day with six more hours to go.Policies of Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition have been divisive at home and have deepened Israel’s international isolation, while he has defended his record, calling himself the only leader with the mettle to face down Israel’s foes. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader with 19 years in office, is an unmatched political survivor, and hi...