Israel is preparing to deploy 22,000 police officers across the occupied territories for Tuesday’s elections, bracing for potential unrest and violence in the aftermath of the vote, local media reported on Monday.

According to the Israeli private broadcaster i24NEWS, citing an unnamed senior police official, the upcoming security deployment marks a significant increase of approximately 5,000 officers compared to the force mobilized during the 2022 elections.

The heightened security measures come against the backdrop of a fiercely contested race between prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling bloc and the Zionist opposition.

With polls indicating a tight finish, authorities are deeply concerned that disputes over the election results could trigger widespread unrest among the settler population.

While the act of voting itself is expected to proceed relatively calmly, security officials are far more concerned about the fallout once the results are made public.

“The day after the elections is no less dangerous than election day itself,” the senior police official told the broadcaster, emphasizing that the announcement of exit polls and the final tally could prompt frustrated factions of settlers to take to the streets.

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Preparations for the high-stakes vote have been underway for the past three months. Security forces have developed extensive contingency plans to handle potential incidents surrounding the release of exit polls, the official announcement of results, and the volatile days that follow.

In addition to managing internal disturbances and mass protests, police are also on high alert for potential security attacks and are implementing strict security arrangements for events organized by various political factions.

“Election day is sensitive, but the following day is no less sensitive,” the official reiterated, underscoring the security establishment's primary focus on maintaining order among settlers during the post-election transition period.

The massive police mobilization highlights the deep political polarization within Israel, as the settler population prepares for what could be a highly volatile aftermath to one of its most critical and divisive elections in recent years.