Apathy in large Israeli cities; engagement in Arab towns

22 October 2013, 8:49 pm

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Despite news reports, an official tally by the Interior Ministry counts 23 percent turnout in Jerusalem as of 7 p.m., and not 25%.

In 2008, 43% of eligible voters in Jerusalem voted, with enough voting for Barkat to propel him to victory over ultra-Orthodox candidate Meir Porush.

Only a few major cities have as low a turnout as Jerusalem as of 7 p.m., such as Holon, Bat Yam and Rishon Letzion, with 19% each; Netanya and Tel Aviv, tallying 21%; and Beersheba, Ramat Gan and Rehovot, also at 23%.

Arab cities, on the other hand, are seeing very high turnout, led by Kafr Kara, with 94%; Sakhnin, with 78%; Hurfeish, with 77%; and a number of cities in the mid-to-low 70% range.