Voting began today in one of the most closely fought elections in years as Benjamin Netanyahu bids to become Israel's longest serving leader.
Clouded by a series of looming corruption indictments, the incumbent prime minister is seeking a fifth term in office that would surpass founding father David Ben-Gurion’s years in charge.
He faces a stiff challenge from retired military chief Benny Gantz, whose Blue and White party has inched ahead of Mr Netanyahu’s Likud in polls.
Mr Gantz is campaigning on the key issue of security and is promising cleaner politics.
But Mr Netanyahu still appeared to have the best chance of forming a coalition, with several small nationalist parties backing him.
In the closing days of the race he made a dramatic rallying call to his Right-wing base by pledging to annex Jewish settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories if he wins the election.
Exit polls are expected once voting closes at 8pm BST with results coming in overnight. Good weather is predicted to boost turnout from the 6.4 million eligible voters.
