Polls have closed around Israel bringing an end to the municipal elections. Official results are expected during the early morning hours unless a race is extremely close, which may delay official results until military and other votes are counted. In such a case, a final official announcement may not be made until as late at Friday.

By all accounts, the race for mayor of Jerusalem was a close one, with each of the leading candidates, Meir Porush and Nir Barkat expressing confidence as the polls closed. Some view the Jerusalem race as a chilul Hashem, blaming the chareidi candidate’s disregard for gedolei yisrael, while others blame chassidim for turning their backs on the good of the tzibur, over issues of pride and other issues that should be secondary to the collective good of Yerushalayim.

Unfortunately, the election will most likely sharpen the differences between chareidim, and regardless of the outcome, the barriers that prevent true cooperation towards kiddush Hashem remain in place, prominently locked into position for the foreseeable future. Little discussion was heard as to what is best for Am Yisrael or Yerushalayim, and the focus of decisions to support or not to support a candidate seem to have hovered around secondary and tertiary issues, not core issues that scream for attention.

In a number of hours, we will most likely know who the next mayor of Yerushalayim is, and the results will undoubtedly result in renewed accusations and worse between Litvish and Chassidish camps as well as the respective subdivisions in each category.

What is certain is that for the non chareidi voter the scene is complex and perhaps distasteful, leaving many to wonder what exactly compels the chareidi community in the political arena and why do frum Jews act this way.

Some Additional Voting Stats:

a. Kadima officials report spending NIS 32 million on the municipal elections followed by Labor with NIS 14 million. Likud did not wish to disclose the amount.

b. Voter turnout in Upper Nazareth at 20:30 was 49.9%.

c. Voter turnout in Herzliya at 20:00 was 33.9%, Cholon 31%, Nes Tziona 46.1%, and Ramat HaSharon 37.6%.

d. Masked men in Akko attempted to make off with a ballot box.

e. National voter turnout passes the 40% mark.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)