Israel Police Deploy 22,000 Officers for Election Night Security

Israel Police are deploying approximately 22,000 officers for the upcoming Knesset election.

The force is preparing for public disorder, with the highest risk expected during the hours following the release of exit polls at 10:00 p.m. A senior police official stated that voting day itself should proceed with relative calm, but tension may persist into the following days.

Police are positioning personnel to handle friction and confrontations throughout the night and into the weekend. They plan to secure five major party gatherings, four located in Tel Aviv and one for the Likud party at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem. The official noted that these events require substantial police presence.

This deployment exceeds the roughly 17,000 officers used in the previous election. A comprehensive briefing was provided to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The session covered intelligence assessments, terrorist threats, and operational readiness. Police have coordinated with the Shin Bet and the IDF for about three months.

The senior official emphasized the independence of the police force. He stated that holding elections requires an apolitical police body, even when operating under the National Security Ministry. He added that the Prime Minister and his ministry director-general were impressed by the staff work presented.

Concerns about post-election instability have grown. In August, Maariv military correspondent Avi Ashkenazi reported that the defense establishment prepared for a scenario called Operation Capitol. This plan addresses claims that election results were forged and rejects the outcome. The scenario was modeled on the January 6, 2021 storming of the US Capitol. Retired Maj.-Gen. Sigal Bar-Tzvi, a former head of the Police Operations Directorate, drafted the order.

A senior retired police officer advised that Police Commissioner Danny Levy should focus on election night rather than voting day. He described a potential scenario where a bloc leader rejects the results and calls supporters into the streets. In that case, police might require assistance from the IDF. A retired police major general warned that widespread civilian firearms and armed groups create a dangerous environment. He called the election a test of leadership.