Israel Police Assign 22,000 Officers for Post-Vote Security
Security planners expect the period after exit polls to release at 10 p.m. to present a higher risk than voting day itself, prompting a surge in nationwide personnel.
By Yuki Tanaka ·
Israel Police have allocated 22,000 officers to secure the Knesset election and the days that follow.
The deployment represents a 5,000 increase over the roughly 17,000 personnel used in the previous cycle. A senior police official stated that while voting day should pass quietly, the hours after exit polls release at 10:00 p.m. carry the greatest risk of public disorder. The official described the following day as no less sensitive than election night, noting that results could drive celebrating or angry citizens into the streets. Police are positioning large forces nationwide to manage friction through the weekend.
Security teams will guard five major party gatherings. Four of these events are located in Tel Aviv, while Likud will hold its rally at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem. The official noted that party events require substantial police resources to maintain order among crowds.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a comprehensive briefing on the operation, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in attendance. The briefing covered intelligence assessments, terrorist threats, and operational readiness. Police coordinated with the Shin Bet and the Israel Defense Forces for approximately three months. The prime minister and his ministry director-general reportedly viewed the staff work favorably.
The security establishment is also preparing for a specific post-election scenario known as Operation Capitol. This plan, drafted by retired Maj.-Gen. Sigal Bar-Tzvi, assumes one political bloc claims the results were forged and attempts to storm the Knesset. The strategy was modeled after the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol incident. Former officials argue this scenario should be the top priority, requiring formal orders on force allocation and war games for commanders.
Retired Police Commissioner Danny Levy and other senior officers warned that a bloc leader rejecting the results and mobilizing supporters could force police to seek assistance from the IDF. One retired major general cited diverging news channel polls and a campaign against the Supreme Court as factors that could fuel a narrative of stolen elections. He described the situation as a test of leadership and warned about the presence of civilian firearms and armed groups.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
