Israelis cheer and sing in school where Netanyahu votes in country's election

Описание: (27 Oct 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jerusalem - 27 October 2026
1. Israelis cheering and singing in a school where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to vote UPSOUND (Hebrew) “Bibi, king of Israel”
2. Close of woman cheering and singing UPSOUND (Hebrew) “Am Yisrael Chai, thank God we got the right to vote, thank God we have a country that we can vote in. We have the privilege. A country with military."
3. Pan to Israelis cheering UPSOUND (Hebrew) “Only Bibi, only Bibi”
4. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Shulamit Syna, Israeli voter:
“Israel’s number one prime minister, only he, only Bibi, Benjamin Netanyahu is his full name. No one is like him and he is irreplaceable, he is irreplaceable. Only Bibi!”
5. Wide of Syna chanting UPSOUND (Hebrew) “Bibi!”
6. Israelis singing outside polling station

STORYLINE:
Israelis cheered and sang in the school where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was expected to vote Tuesday, as the country wrestles with unresolved wars, continues to reel from Hamas' 2023 attack and is deeply divided over the character of the state and the right person to lead it.  

Some stood on tables trying to overlook a makeshift security barrier separating voters from the area where Netanyahu was expected to vote.

Netanyahu voted at the Gonenim school in Jerusalem, an area which has strong support for the prime minister. 

While waiting for Netanyahu, his supporters chanted in Hebrew “Bibi, king of Israel.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who voted just after midday, faces an array of parties seeking to oust Israel's longest-serving premier from power.

Opinion polls have suggested a tight race with his main rival, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.

Over 7 million people are eligible to vote, and tens of thousands have reportedly arrived from overseas.

Inside Israel, the race is largely about security and who should serve to defend the country.

Outside Israel, it's mainly about the country's reputation — and the security of Jewish people worldwide — after growing criticism over the war in Gaza and Jewish settler violence in the occupied West Bank.

Almost 17% of Israelis voted in the first three hours, the highest turnout by that point since 1981, according to initial figures by the Central Elections Committee.

AP video by Sam Mednick

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