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Israel election: PM Netanyahu seeks record fifth term | Israel election: PM Netanyahu seeks record fifth term |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Israelis are voting in the country's most closely-fought general election in years. | |
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the right-wing Likud Party, is seeking a fifth term in office. | Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, leader of the right-wing Likud Party, is seeking a fifth term in office. |
But he is facing corruption allegations and a strong challenge from retired general Benny Gantz. | But he is facing corruption allegations and a strong challenge from retired general Benny Gantz. |
Mr Gantz, head of the centrist Blue and White alliance, is challenging Mr Netanyahu on the key issue of security and is promising cleaner politics. | Mr Gantz, head of the centrist Blue and White alliance, is challenging Mr Netanyahu on the key issue of security and is promising cleaner politics. |
Israel's Labour Party, which sealed a breakthrough peace deal with the Palestinians in the 1990s, has lost favour with voters. | |
What is forecast? | |
No party has ever won a majority in Israel's 120-seat parliament, the Knesset, and the country has always had coalition governments. | |
As soon as the results start coming in at 22:00 (19:00 GMT) on Tuesday, negotiations start on the formation of a governing coalition. | |
Final pre-election polls suggested the two main contenders were neck-and-neck, with both set to win 30 seats. | |
In Israel's fragmented party system the advantage remains with Mr Netanyahu, who still looks most likely to be able to form a new coalition government, says the BBC's Tom Bateman in Jerusalem. | |
In a widely criticised move to lock down extra right-wing seats, Mr Netanyahu brokered a deal in February making it easier for candidates from an extreme-right wing party that many view as racist to enter parliament. | |
Israeli Arabs make up almost a fifth of the population, but surveys suggest that fewer than half of those eligible to vote plan to do so. | |
What was Netanyahu's pitch to voters? | |
At a rally in Jerusalem on Monday, Mr Netanyahu told Likud supporters not to be "complacent" and urged them to turn out at polling stations. | At a rally in Jerusalem on Monday, Mr Netanyahu told Likud supporters not to be "complacent" and urged them to turn out at polling stations. |
He warned that his "leftist" rivals could still win. | He warned that his "leftist" rivals could still win. |
Our correspondent says Mr Netanyahu has appealed to Israel's increasingly right-wing voter base with tough messages on security and a significant announcement in the final days suggesting a new government would annex Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. | |
The settlements are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this. | The settlements are considered illegal under international law, although Israel disputes this. |
Our correspondent says Mr Netanyahu has faced an uncomfortable election race, dogged by looming corruption charges, and a flare-up in the conflict with Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. | Our correspondent says Mr Netanyahu has faced an uncomfortable election race, dogged by looming corruption charges, and a flare-up in the conflict with Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip. |
The prime minister denies the corruption allegations, and says he is a victim of a political "witch hunt" aimed at influencing the election. | |
And Benny Gantz's? | |
The former chief of staff for the Israeli military, a newcomer to politics, can rival Mr Netanyahu on security - one of the election's key issues. | |
He has also promised "cleaner" politics. | |
Mr Gantz told Blue and White supporters in Tel Aviv that the prime minister wanted to change the law to protect himself from prosecution. | Mr Gantz told Blue and White supporters in Tel Aviv that the prime minister wanted to change the law to protect himself from prosecution. |
"The whole purpose is to create a legal fortress to guarantee his legal immunity in front of the serious charges he is facing," he said. | "The whole purpose is to create a legal fortress to guarantee his legal immunity in front of the serious charges he is facing," he said. |