26.5 per cent voter turnout in Israel polls by midday

 Jerusalem, March 17: An estimated 26.5 percent of Israel’s voters cast their ballots at polling stations across Israel by midday on Tuesday in the Israeli general elections, according to the Israeli Central Elections Committee. The voting rate falls just short of matching those recorded at the same time in the elections of 2013, according to data collected from 400 polling stations, Efe news agency reported. The elections have proceeded without incident, however President of the Israeli Central Elections Committee, Judge Salim Jubran, has banned the ultra-orthodox Jewish radio station Kol from spreading electoral propaganda after a complaint filed by the Sephardic Shas party. Elsewhere, Israeli public radio reported that the opening of four polling stations in the town of Beit Shemesh, west of Jerusalem, was delayed when a suspicious object was found. According to the committee, 7,300 soldiers have voted over the past two days, while participation in Israeli diplomatic missions abroad, where voting began a week ago, exceeded 71 percent. There are 5.8 million Israelis eligible to vote in 10,119 polling stations spread tionwide for the premature legislative elections to choose members of the 20th Israeli Knesset. (IANS)