Prisoners vote at 88.7% rate as crime figures back Arab and Left parties

The Israel Prison Service reported an 88.7% voter turnout among eligible prisoners and detainees on Wednesday. This figure, provided by the agency’s Operations Division, marks a high level of participation for the national election held that day.

Polling stations at all detention facilities closed at 8 p.m. The Israel Prison Service coordinated the effort with the Central Elections Committee. Kobi Yaakobi, the agency’s commissioner, led the operational preparations. Judges and official observers visited the facilities throughout the day. Officials stated that voting occurred by secret ballot under strict security and public order measures.

Sources close to figures in Israel’s organized crime sector revealed their political preferences to the news outlet Walla on Wednesday. Associates of the Jarushi family, linked to a prominent crime organization, indicated support for the Arab-led parties Ra’am and the Joint List. Sources close to Eitan Hiya said his preference is for Yair Golan, a left-wing politician. These alignments vary by family and individual, with no single unified political camp emerging from the criminal underworld.

The information comes from associates and does not verify the specific ballots cast by the individuals. The right to vote remains intact for those associated with criminal organizations, provided they have not lost that legal standing. This creates a dynamic where state agents who monitor and restrict criminal activities vote for the same Knesset that those figures influence.

The Knesset determines the legal tools available to the state in its fight against organized crime. The Law for the Protection of the Public from Criminal Organizations took effect at the end of 2024. This legislation allows courts to impose restrictions on individuals operating within criminal organizations without a formal indictment. Conditions include staying away from certain areas, confinement to home, and prohibitions on contact with specified individuals.

The law aims to prevent serious harm to public safety while minimizing infringements on individual rights. It applies when criminal proceedings are insufficient to achieve that objective. Law enforcement authorities use these tools to keep criminal organizations away from centers of power. However, a ballot cast by someone associated with such groups carries the same weight as that of any other eligible citizen.

The election takes place against the backdrop of the state’s ongoing struggle against organized crime. Police, the State Attorney’s Office, and the courts work to restrict the activities of these groups. Yet, behind the voting booth curtain, the distinction between the investigator and the person under investigation disappears for the duration of the vote. Both cast their ballots for the same legislative body.

The next step in the electoral process involves the counting of ballots and the official declaration of results. The composition of the new Knesset will determine the legislative direction for the coming term. The specific seats won by the parties supported by these criminal figures will become clear once the final tallies are announced.