The IDF is preparing to establish polling stations inside Gaza, southern Lebanon, and Syria to allow soldiers deployed beyond Israel’s borders to vote in the upcoming national elections, according to a report by Army Radio.

The plan is part of a series of election guidelines issued by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir following a recent meeting with the General Staff. Zamir said the military’s primary objective is to ensure every soldier can vote while keeping the IDF out of the political arena.

The directives also prohibit inviting outside speakers with political affiliations and ban tours of politically sensitive sites during the election period. In addition, the IDF will review commanders’ speeches, letters, and official messages to ensure they do not contain inappropriate political statements.

Zamir also ordered the creation of a team to monitor soldiers’ activity on social media, respond to exceptional incidents, and reinforce rules prohibiting political activity by military personnel. He emphasized that the IDF must not be used for political campaigning and instructed commanders to be especially mindful of the large number of reservists serving during the election period.

The military will also make special preparations for sensitive dates expected to fall during the campaign, including the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas attack and the anniversary of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

The IDF declined to comment on the Army Radio report.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)