Israel election turnout reaches midday record

Israel's Central Elections Commission said turnout in Tuesday's election reached its highest recorded level for the midway point of voting.

Dean Livne, head of the commission, said 3.29 million Israelis, or 44.9 percent of eligible voters, had cast a ballot by 2:00 pm local time.

Livne said it was the highest turnout at that point since the commission began recording such statistics in 1973.