Key facts
- The Israeli military will establish polling stations in occupied Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria for the October general election.
- This measure is intended to allow soldiers deployed beyond Israel's internationally recognized borders to vote.
- Army chief Eyal Zamir has instructed military officials to facilitate this voting process.
- Soldiers will be identified by service number and another soldier, as carrying ID cards into these territories is prohibited.
- The Central Elections Committee has approved regulations for this voting arrangement.
The Israeli military is preparing to establish polling stations in occupied areas of the Gaza Strip, Lebanon, and Syria to facilitate voting for soldiers deployed beyond Israel's internationally recognized borders in the upcoming October general election. Army chief Eyal Zamir has instructed military officials to implement this measure, which has been described as unprecedented in decades.
The Central Elections Committee has approved regulations allowing soldiers to cast ballots from military positions in these territories. Due to prohibitions on carrying identity cards into Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, voters will be identified using their service number and verification by another soldier. In the March 2021 election, approximately 425,000 individuals, including security personnel, voted at special polling stations.
Zamir also emphasized the importance of maintaining the military's political neutrality, directing commanders to prevent soldiers and officers from engaging in political campaigning. This directive followed recent criticism regarding the handling of a reservist soldier who expressed support for the government, leading to the soldier's initial dismissal and subsequent reinstatement after intervention by Defense Minister Israel Katz.