Midway through voting, Israeli turnout hits 53-year high

Tel Aviv, Israel - Halfway through election day, 45 percent of Israeli voters had cast a ballot — the highest level since 1973.Why it matters: This looks like bad news for Benjamin Netanyahu. Higher voter turnout will likely push several of the parties in his bloc below the electoral threshold — making it harder for the prime minister to reach a 61-seat majority in parliament. An increase in turnout among Arab minority communities could lead to a record number of seats in parliament for them. As in previous elections, Netanyahu has tried to energize his voters by making false claims about "Mus