WATCH VIDEO: Massive, historic Israeli voter turnout of 74% is fantastic but high turnout means high drama – who will win, Bibi or Gadi?

JERUSALEM, ISRAEL — As my wife, Lynn, and I voted around 4 p.m., intense thunder and lightning storms erupted here in the capital and in other parts of the country.

Yet terrible weather wasn’t stopping Israelis from voting.

And that’s the big story so far today.

We’ve already experienced the largest turnout of voters in Israeli history – and I find that enormously encouraging.

As of 8 p.m. local time, 74.3% of Israelis had voted.

That’s a record high – and a great sign of a healthy and vibrant democracy.

In the first national elections since the October 7th invasion and three years of war, Israelis are making their voices heard.

Indeed, 70,000 to 80,000 Israelis living and working abroad even flew back at their own expense to vote in person because there is no absentee voting.

HIGH ISRAELI ARAB TURNOUT IS A GOOD THING FOR OUR DEMOCRACY

I’m also very glad to see so many Israeli Arab citizens are voting today – their turnout also appears to be at record levels.

Israeli Arabs are showing their desire to be participating in – and contributing to – Israeli democracy.

That is not apartheid, folks.

That is freedom.

That said, I’m deeply disappointed by Israeli politicians – including Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu – who have been warning all day that Arab citizens are voting in huge numbers.

That is just wrong.

Conduct unbecoming national leaders.

Do many Israeli Arabs vote far differently than Jewish Israelis?

Yes.

Do they have very different goals and policy aims than most Jewish Israelis?

Yes.

But they should not be castigated for it.

Democracy is a blessing.

Voting is a right.

Politicians should get their own voters out to the polls.

They should not be denigrating other voters who are exercising their rights.

They should not be treating Israeli Arabs as second-class citizens.

What’s more, Israeli Arabs have some legitimate and serious concerns that have not been addressed properly.

Violence – including murder – in Israeli Arab cities and villages is out of control.

And Israeli police forces are not doing nearly enough to protect Arab citizens or solve and prosecute violent crime in these communities.

This must change immediately.

WHAT ARE THE ELECTORAL IMPLICATIONS FOR HIGH TOTAL VOTER TURNOUT?

High stakes means high drama.

Nobody knows who will win.

Is Netanyahu going to be fired for October 7th?

Or will he be rehired because of his major successes against Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas?

Will all ultra-Orthodox Jewish young men be required to serve in the Israeli military?

Will we have a national state commission of inquiry into why October 7th happened? How can we fix things?

There are big questions about the economy.

Young Israeli couples have a very hard time affording to buy an apartment. Who’s going to fix this?

Israel’s global reputation is terrible.

How can this be changed?

Big issues. Big stakes. Big turnout.

Big drama.

How will it all play out?

Join us at 10 p.m. Israel time for our live election coverage and analysis.

That’s 4 p.m. EDT and 1 p.m. PDT.