The Israeli occupation army decided to impose a general closure on the West Bank and close the crossings in the Gaza Strip, as Israelis headed to the polls, on Tuesday, to cast their votes in the elections for the Fifth Knesset in less than 4 years.
An IDF statement clarified that the closure will start at midnight on Tuesday, while the crossings will be opened and the closure lifted before midnight on Wednesday by evaluating the situation.
The country has been locked in a vicious cycle of elections since 2019, amid an ongoing stalemate between former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his opponents from the left, right and center.
While 40 lists are competing in the elections, most Israeli opinion polls show that the elections for the Knesset (Israeli parliament) this time too may end inconclusively.
Opinion polls give an advantage to the coalition led by former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but without obtaining an absolute majority.
The government of current Prime Minister Yair Lapid did not last more than one year, despite its formation after 4 consecutive electoral rounds, one in April 2019, another in September 2019, in March 2020, and then in March 2021.
The heterogeneous composition of Lapid's government was one of the reasons that led to its stumble, especially as it included for the first time an Arab party as a full partner in the coalition, the United Arab List.
The November 1 elections come after Lapid's coalition lost its slim parliamentary majority in June 2022. Instead of waiting for the opposition to vote to bring down Lapid's government, the government moved to dissolve parliament, leading to Israel's fifth election since 2019.
Karish field
On another Israeli issue, Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid toured the Karish gas field, days after the signing of the agreement demarcating the water borders with Lebanon.
Lapid said that gas extraction would turn Israel into a regional energy provider, and would help Europe deal with the current energy crisis.
He considered that the start of extracting gas from the Karish field and the border demarcation agreement with Lebanon is a great achievement for Israel that will contribute to ensuring stability and reducing the cost of living in Israel.