22,000 Officers: Israel Police Surge for Knesset Vote

Twenty-two thousand police officers will stand ready for the security operation surrounding the election of the 26th Knesset. This figure represents a substantial increase from the roughly 17,000 officers deployed during the previous cycle. A senior police official stated that while voting day itself is expected to pass quietly, the primary focus of the force is the period immediately following the release of exit polls.

Exit polls are scheduled to air at 10:00 p.m. The official warned that these results could send either celebratory or angry crowds into the streets. He described the day after the vote as no less sensitive than the voting day itself. Police are preparing for friction and confrontations that may extend through the night and into the following weekend. Consequently, large forces will remain active nationwide after polling stations close, rather than limiting attention to the hours of the vote.

The deployment includes securing five major party gatherings. Four of these events are set to take place in Tel Aviv. The fifth, organized by the Likud party, will be held at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem. The official noted that such large-scale party events require a very significant number of police forces to manage logistics and crowd control effectively.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a comprehensive briefing on the plan. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir also attended the session. The briefing covered intelligence assessments, the threat of hostile terrorist activity, and operational readiness for public order challenges. The official reported that the prime minister and his ministry director-general were impressed by the staff work involved in the preparation.

Police have been preparing for this operation for approximately three months. This preparation involved coordination with the Shin Bet and the Israel Defense Forces. The senior official emphasized the independence of the police force during this political process. He stated that it is impossible to hold elections in the State of Israel without an apolitical police force. He added that the police must remain free of political influence in both their conduct and their public perception.

Concerns about post-election unrest have been building since August. Maariv military correspondent Avi Ashkenazi reported that the defense establishment was preparing for a scenario dubbed Operation Capitol. This plan was shaped by the January 6, 2021 storming of the US Capitol. A team led by retired Maj.-Gen. Sigal Bar-Tzvi drafted the order. It covers claims of widespread fraud, attempts to disrupt the vote count, and scenarios where tens of thousands try to storm the Knesset.

A senior retired police officer advised Police Commissioner Danny Levy to focus on election night rather than just voting day. He described a dangerous scenario where a bloc leader rejects results and calls supporters into the streets while the opposing camp mobilizes. In such a case, police would likely need assistance from the IDF. Several former security officials argued that this scenario should top the priority list. One former official called it a massive failure if this was not the top priority. Levy has held periodic conversations with former senior officials regarding these concerns.

A retired police major general warned that it is currently difficult to rely on the Shin Bet. He pointed to weekly polls on a news channel that diverge from other surveys, which could prepare a narrative of stolen elections. He also cited campaigns against the Central Elections Committee and the Supreme Court. The general warned about widespread civilian firearms and armed groups, calling it a dangerous platform for civil war. He described the upcoming vote as a test of leadership.