Israel is primed for clashes around election day. Is there a way out?

The Times of Israel reports on the tense atmosphere ahead of Israel's October 27 election, with political rhetoric escalating on Channel 14 where panelists called opposition figures traitors and ignoramuses. Polls show a wide gap between Channel 14's surveys and other outlets. Likud and Religious Zionism plan to station 2,000 activists at Arab polling stations. Professor Gilad Hirschberger warns of explosive potential for clashes.

The Times of Israel reports on the volatile political atmosphere in Israel ahead of the October 27 election. The article describes a recent episode of the pro-government Channel 14 talk show 'The Patriots,' where panelists accused former prime minister Naftali Bennett of 'treason' and called opposition frontrunner Gadi Eisenkot an 'ignoramus' and 'scoundrel.' The show had earlier played a clip from a Haaretz podcast in which someone called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 'the worst Jew in Jewish history.' Political rhetoric has been at a fever pitch for months, with candidates receiving death threats and the specter of war looming. President Isaac Herzog has repeatedly pleaded for the polarized country to eschew violent discourse. The article notes a substantial discrepancy between polls from most outlets, which show the pro-Netanyahu bloc with 51 seats, and Channel 14's polls, which show the bloc with 62 seats. Likud and the far-right Religious Zionism party plan to station nearly 2,000 activists at polling stations in Arab towns to police unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud. Professor Gilad Hirschberger of Reichman University warns that the gap in polling could lead to grievance and unrest, and that the presence of right-wing activists at Arab polling stations could create friction and provoke fighting.