Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir receive police plan for 22,000 officers to secure Knesset election

Israel Police will deploy 22,000 officers for the upcoming 26th Knesset elections, a force level that exceeds the 17,000 officers used in the previous cycle. Senior police officials stated that while voting day is expected to be calm, the period following the release of exit polls at 10:00 p.m. presents the greatest risk for public disorder. The police anticipate that results will send either jubilant or angry citizens onto the streets, creating friction through the night and into the weekend.

The security operation focuses on managing public order beyond the polling stations. A senior official noted that police cannot limit their attention to voting hours alone. Large forces will remain active nationwide after the polls close to handle confrontations. The police are also preparing to secure five major party gatherings. Four of these events will take place in Tel Aviv, while Likud will hold its celebration at the International Convention Center in Jerusalem. The official described these setups as requiring very large numbers of police forces.

The security briefing was presented to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in attendance. The report covered intelligence assessments, the threat of hostile terrorist activity, and operational readiness. Police have prepared for the election for approximately three months in coordination with the Shin Bet and the Israel Defense Forces. The official stated that the prime minister and his ministry director-general were impressed by the staff work. He also emphasized the independence of the police, stating that it is completely impossible to hold elections in Israel without an apolitical force.

Concerns about post-election unrest extend beyond standard crowd control. In August, Maariv military correspondent Avi Ashkenazi reported that the defense establishment was preparing for a scenario named Operation Capitol. This plan addresses situations where one political bloc claims the results were forged and acts to undermine public order. The scenario is modeled on the January 6, 2021 storming of the US Capitol. A team led by retired Maj.-Gen. Sigal Bar-Tzvi drafted the order, which covers claims of widespread fraud and attempts to disrupt the vote count.

The plan includes a scenario where tens of thousands of people try to storm the Knesset. A senior retired police officer advised that Police Commissioner Danny Levy should prioritize election night over voting day deployment. He described a dangerous situation where a bloc leader rejects the results and calls supporters into the streets while the opposing camp mobilizes. In such a case, police would require assistance from other bodies, chiefly the IDF. Several former police and Shin Bet officials argue this scenario should top the priority list, requiring formal orders on force allocation and war games for commanders.

One former security official warned that it would be a massive failure if this scenario was not placed at the top of the list. Maariv learned that Commissioner Levy has held periodic conversations with former senior officials, some of whom raised these concerns. A retired police major general noted that while the Shin Bet and police are responsible for an orderly transfer of power, 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 warned about widespread civilian firearms and armed groups, describing the situation as a dangerous platform for civil war.

The retired general stated that the upcoming election is a test of leadership. He highlighted a campaign against the Central Elections Committee and the Supreme Court as additional stressors. The police and Shin Bet are tasked with ensuring the transfer of power proceeds smoothly despite these internal tensions. The deployment of 22,000 officers represents the current level of preparedness for the event.