Israel Police Deploy 22,000 Officers for Knesset Election Security

Israel Police plan to deploy 22,000 officers for the upcoming 26th Knesset elections, a figure that represents an increase of approximately 5,000 personnel from the roughly 17,000 officers assigned during the previous election cycle. This expanded deployment reflects a heightened focus on managing public order risks that extend well beyond the voting day itself.

A senior police official stated that while voting day is expected to proceed relatively quietly, the period following the release of exit polls at 10:00 p.m. presents the highest risk for friction and confrontations. The official noted that police cannot limit their operational attention to polling stations during voting hours and must maintain large, active forces nationwide through the night, the next day, and into the weekend to manage potential disorder.

The security operation includes dedicated resources for five major party gatherings. Four of these events are scheduled in Tel Aviv, while Likud will hold its gathering at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem. The official emphasized that such large-scale party events require substantial police resources to ensure safety and manage crowds effectively.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a comprehensive briefing on the security plan, attended by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The briefing covered intelligence assessments, threats from hostile terrorist activity, and operational readiness. Police have spent approximately three months preparing for the election in coordination with the Shin Bet and the Israel Defense Forces, a process that reportedly impressed the prime minister and his ministry director-general.

Security officials have also outlined specific scenarios for post-election instability, including the possibility that one political bloc may claim the results were forged and reject them. This concern mirrors the 2021 US Capitol storming and has led to the development of plans, such as the one drafted by retired Maj.-Gen. Sigal Bar-Tzvi, which covers claims of widespread fraud and attempts to disrupt the vote count. A senior retired police officer advised that Police Commissioner Danny Levy should prioritize election night over voting day deployment, noting that police may need assistance from the IDF if a bloc leader rejects the results and mobilizes supporters.

Former police and Shin Bet officials have urged that the scenario of a contested election result be placed at the top of the priority list, recommending formal orders on force allocation and exercises at National Headquarters. One retired police major general warned about the challenges of relying on the Shin Bet for an orderly transfer of power, citing divergent polling data and campaigns against the Central Elections Committee and the Supreme Court. He also highlighted the presence of widespread civilian firearms and armed groups as a factor that could complicate the situation, describing the upcoming election as a test of leadership.

The police force aims to maintain political neutrality throughout the operation, with the official stressing that an apolitical police force is essential for holding elections in the State of Israel. Even under the authority of the National Security Minister, the police must remain free of political influence in both their conduct and their public perception.