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Israel election: PM Netanyahu seeks record fifth term Israel election: PM Netanyahu seeks record fifth term
(about 8 hours later)
Israelis are voting in the country's most closely-fought general election in years. Israel is holding its 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 former military chief Benny Gantz. But he is facing corruption allegations and a strong challenge from former military chief Benny Gantz, head of the centrist Blue and White alliance.
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. Pre-election polls suggested the two main contenders were neck-and-neck and that they would need to rely on smaller parties to form a governing coalition.
Israel's Labour Party, which sealed a breakthrough peace deal with the Palestinians in the 1990s, has lost favour with voters in recent years. Negotiations are expected to start soon after polls close at 22:00 local time (19:00 GMT).
What is forecast? What is forecast to happen?
No party has ever won a majority in Israel's 120-seat parliament, the Knesset, and the country has always had coalition governments.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. More than 40 parties are contesting Tuesday's election, but only about a dozen are expected to overcome a 3.25% threshold, allowing them to enter parliament with four seats or more.
Final pre-election polls suggested the two main contenders were neck-and-neck, with both set to win 30 seats. Final polls suggested Likud and Blue and White would both win about 30 seats.
The left-wing Labour party was predicted to come third with about 10 seats, followed by the Arab alliance Hadash-Taal and United Torah Judaism, which represents ultra-Orthodox Jews.
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 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.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. On Tuesday, Israeli Arab politicians condemned Likud for sending 1,200 observers equipped with hidden body cameras to polling stations in Arab communities.
What was Netanyahu's pitch to voters? Hadash-Taal said it was an "illegal" action by the "extremist right" that sought to intimidate Arabs and reduce turnout, but Likud said it wanted to ensure only "valid votes" were cast.
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. A leading pollster said on Tuesday afternoon that he had never seen such a low turnout among Israeli Arabs, who make up almost a fifth of the population.
He warned that his "leftist" rivals could still win. What was Benjamin Netanyahu's pitch to voters?
The 69-year-old, who could overtake David Ben-Gurion as Israel's longest-serving prime minister if he is re-elected, called voting a "sacred act" when he cast his ballot in Jerusalem on Tuesday.
"You need to choose well, but I can't tell you for whom," he said. "Or I can, but I'm not going to. God willing, Israel will win."
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.
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.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.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? What about Benny Gantz?
The 59-year-old retired lieutenant-general is a newcomer to politics who formed the centrist Blue and White alliance in February, promising to unite a country that had "lost its way". The 59-year-old retired lieutenant-general is a newcomer to politics who formed the Blue and White in February, promising to unite a country that had "lost its way".
The former chief of staff for the Israeli military can rival Mr Netanyahu on security - one of the election's key issues. Casting his vote in the town of Rosh Haayin, near Tel Aviv, he called on Israelis to respect democracy and "take responsibility".
While prominent members of Mr Netanyahu's current right-wing governing coalition openly oppose the creation of a Palestinian state and want to annex much of the occupied West Bank, Mr Gantz's campaign platform refers to "separation" from the Palestinians - but does not specifically mention them having a state. "Go to vote. Choose whoever you believe in. Respect each other and let us all wake up for a new dawn, a new history that we need to begin," he said.
It also supports a "united" Jerusalem as Israel's capital, although Palestinians claim the east of the city as their future capital. The former chief of staff of the Israeli military can rival Mr Netanyahu on security - one of the election's key issues - and is promising cleaner politics.
Mr Gantz's alliance also calls for continued control over the Jordan Valley and retaining West Bank Jewish settlement blocs. Settlements are seen as illegal under international law, although Israel disagrees. He told Blue and White supporters in Tel Aviv on Monday that the prime minister wanted to "create a legal fortress to guarantee his legal immunity in front of the serious charges he is facing".
Mr Gantz has promised "cleaner" politics. Mr Gantz's campaign platform refers to "separation" from the Palestinians but does not specifically mention them having an independent state. It also calls for continued control over the Jordan Valley and retaining West Bank settlement blocs.
He told Blue and White supporters in Tel Aviv that the prime minister wanted to change the law to protect himself from prosecution. Asked about the Israeli election on Tuesday, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told reporters in the West Bank: "We hope they choose the just path, in the right direction, to reach out for peace."
"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.