Israel Holds Second Round of Municipal Elections in 35 Cities

Agreements between haredi parties aim to restore political harmony, following a closely contested first round.

35 cities and towns in Israel, including Haifa, Ariel, and Beit Shemesh, held a second round of municipal elections after no candidate achieved the required 40% of votes in the first round.
In Beit Shemesh, incumbent mayor Dr. Aliza Bloch faced off against Shmuel Greenberg of the Lithuanian haredi party Degel Hatorah, with both parties reaching agreements with other major haredi parties to support their candidates.
The agreements between haredi parties aim to alleviate tensions and restore the political status quo within the haredi community, following a period of division.
Voter turnout varied across cities, with Beit Shemesh reporting 42.5% of eligible voters participating, while Haifa saw only 20.1%.
The second round of elections is seen as a critical moment for local governance and the future political landscape of Israel's cities and towns.