Israel Police deploy 22,000 officers for Knesset election, prepare for post-vote unrest

Israel Police are preparing for potential post-election unrest, deploying 22,000 officers for Tuesday's Knesset election, with heightened concern over possible clashes after exit polls are released at 10:00 p.m. Authorities are bracing for a scenario modeled on the U.S. Capitol riot, where a political bloc might claim election fraud and incite public disorder. Police will secure five major party gatherings, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a security briefing alongside National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Former officials warn of risks from armed civilian militias and delegitimization campaigns against election institutions, urging police to prioritize contingency planning for a contested result. The deployment marks an increase of roughly 5,000 officers from the previous election.