Israelis have voted in an unprecedented third general election in under a year, which polls predict will end in yet another political deadlock.
Benjamin Netanyahu held a solid edge over his main rival, exit polls indicated Monday night, but it was unclear whether he can clinch the parliamentary majority needed to claim victory.
If the official results match the exit polls, Mr Netanyahu would receive a major boost ahead of his trial on corruption charges, set to begin March 17.
More than 6.4 million people are eligible to cast their vote in polling stations that will close at 10pm on Monday, with 14 special stations created for those quarantined over coronavirus.
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Benjamin Netanyahu is battling to stay in power just days before the start of his corruption trial, our middle east correspondent, Bel Trew reports.
Since April, Mr Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, has failed twice to form a ruling coalition following two previous inconclusive votes.
Casting his ballot, president Reuven Rivlin said he felt “deep shame” for Israel's repeated elections.
“I’ve participated in nearly every election and it’s always been a festive day for israeli democracy," he said.
"Today I must say I feel no sense of festivity. I feel ashamed in front of you, dear citizens of Israel… We don’t deserve this. We don’t deserve another horrible and filthy campaign like the one that ends today and we don’t deserve this endless instability. We deserve a government that will work for us.”
Israel is on the brink of its third election in just 12 months after facing an unprecedented electoral deadlock, our reporter Louise Hall writes.
Here’s everything you need to know about the contentious election:
Benjamin Netanyahu tried to reassure voters over coronavirus fears as he cast his vote, our middle east correspondent, Bel Trew reports.
“The corona thing is completely under control," Netanyahu said. "Today we’ve taken all the precautions that are necessary, people can go and vote, with complete confidence.”
More than 10 special polling stations have created for those quarantined due to exposure to the coronavirus.
Diplomats have told The Independent they are so convinced of another political deadlock as a result of the election, they are preparing for a fourth and fifth vote.
These votes would push into 2021 and mean the country had been operating with a caretaker government for three years, our middle east correspondent, Bel Trew reports.
Netanyahu’s main rival Benny Gantz, voted this morning in Rosh HaAyin, joined by his wife, Revital.
“I hope that today marks the start of a healing process, where we can begin living together again," he said.
I urge everyone to get out and vote. Don’t get drawn in by the lies or by the violence. Over this past stretch, I’ve met with thousands of people, and I’m hopeful that today we can set Israel on a new course.”
Israel’s elections commission has recorded a 21-year voter turnout record, our middle east correspondent, Bel Trew reports.
It comes despite fears voter fatigue and concerns about the coronavirus would keep people at home.
Israeli voters furious at endless elections
Across Israel, a sense of desperation appears to have to driven voters to the polling booths, our middle east correspondent, Bel Trew writes. But the enthusiasm to vote did not mask the anger.
"For them, it’s a shameful game of musical seats in parliament. For us, it’s our lives," one voter said.
Yasmin Farhadian, 31, a doctor in Tel Aviv told The Independent she is voting Likud as Netanyahu is the “best prime minister Israel has ever had”.
She dismissed the corruption trials against Netanyahu, saying that rather than it being a sign of a problem in Israel it showed how strong the country’s democracy is.
“In terms of the indictments against Netanyahu, it really doesn’t seem to me like bribery."
"I think the fact we’ve had 3 elections in a year only says good things. We’re devoted to our democracy. And that shows with these elections but also that we are able to put our prime minister on trial. There are people who are crying about it, but it’s not that in the past there wasn’t corruption. There was, we just didn’t know about it. And they didn’t do anything about it.”
Fadi jabareen, 27, an Arab citizen of Israel in Tel Aviv, did not bother to vote over the last two elections but in exasperation with the political stalemate is voting for the Arab-majority Joint List.
His relative Yousef jabareen is on the list.
“In the beginning in the first two elections I didn’t vote. This time I have someone from the family, there’s a feeling that we’ll have a voice. The family is talking about that.
"We don’t want [the government ] to decide for us… Today I feel that I’m doing something.”
Trump has plenty at stake when Israelis vote again on new Netanyahu term - John T Bennett
There is plenty on the line for Benjamin Netanyahu today - John T Bennett writes - but Donald Trump also has a stake in the outcome.
He adds:
The US president and the Israeli leader did little last month to hide their mutual affection as they strode side-by-side into the East Room at the White House to roll out Mr Trump's long-anticipated Israeli-Palestinian peace plan. The politically adept Mr Netanyahu sent a signal to voters back home about his relationship with Mr Trump, a country on which his depends for military equipment and defence dollars.~
"President Trump, Donald, I'm honoured to be here today," Mr Netanyahu said, daring to do something every other world leader avoids while standing in the White House: Calling the ego-driven American president by his first name. Even Trump himself typically refers to himself as "Trump" when speaking publicly in the third person."
More below:
Trump has plenty at stake when Israelis vote again on new Netanyahu term
News analysis: What's behind US president's willingness to back Israeli PM? Netanyahu and Israel have support of his conservative base'This is one for the most intriguing, most interesting, and most gripping exit polls'
Camil Fuchs, a Tel Aviv University statistician conducting an exit poll for Channel 13 TV, indicated that the results could be dramatic.
"From the data we have so far .. this is one for the most intriguing, most interesting, and most gripping exit polls - one of the most gripping there have been," he said on Channel 13.
Benjamin Netanyahu has held a solid edge over his main rival, exit polls indicated Monday night, but it is unclear whether he can clinch the parliamentary majority needed to claim victory.
Exit polls on Israel's main TV channels showed Mr Netanyahu and his nationalist and religious allies winning 60 seats, one short of a parliamentary majority. The center-left bloc, led by former military chief Benny Gantz, was projected to win 52 to 54 seats.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party appears to have won the most seats in Israel’s election but is just one short of the number needed for a majority right-wing government, according to early exit polls.
Here is Bel Trew with more:
Netanyahu falls short of majority in Israel election, exit polls say
The IndependentBenjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party appears to have won the most seats in Israel’s election but is just one short of the number needed for a majority right-wing government, according to early exit polls. Exit polls released by Israeli networks Channel 11, 12 and 13 show that Mr Netanyahu’s Likud party is expected to sweep between 36 and 37 of the seats of the Knesset, Israeli’sNetanyahu declares victory as additional polls put Likud ahead
Israel's three main TV channels projected in exit polls that Benjamin Netanyahu's rightist Likud and like-minded parties would capture 60 of parliament's 120-seats, just one short of a majority, in Monday's vote. In an updated exit poll, Israel's Channel 13 dropped the figure to 59.
During an acrimonious campaign which focused more on character than on policy, right-wing and religious parties had pledged to join a Likud-led coalition government. But if the 60-seat projection held true, after actual results later on Tuesday, Mr Netanyahu would still have to enlist other allies in coalition negotiations.
A Likud spokesman said the prime minister would deliver a late-night victory speech at the party's election headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Ahead of the address in an apparent declaration of victory, Mr Netanyahu wrote on Twitter: "We won thanks to our belief in our path and thanks to the people of Israel."
Benny Gantz, in a speech at his Blue and White party's election headquarters, stopped short of conceding defeat - saying the election could result in another deadlock.
"I will tell you honestly, I understand and share the feeling of disappointment and pain because it is not the result we wanted," he said.
The exit polls showed Likud taking between 36 and 37 parliamentary seats versus 32 to 34 for Blue and White - a gap that would make it far harder for Gantz to find a path to putting together a governing coalition.
Likud members celebrate potential victory
At the Likud headquarters in Tel Aviv, the room erupted into cheers and supporters, wielding enormous flags and blue balloons, welcomed the poll results as confirmation of a certain win.
"I’m feeling great and I think that the people of Israel have shown that they support the leadership of prime minister Netanyahu and the views of the Likud and the right-wing camp," Gilad Erdan, a Likud Knesset member (MK) told The Independent.
"Now we hope that the other parties will accept this verdict and will negotiate with us to establish a strong right-wing government," he added.
Across Israel, a sense of desperation appears to have to driven voters to the polling booths, our middle east correspondent, Bel Trew writes. But the enthusiasm to vote did not mask the anger.
"For them, it’s a shameful game of musical seats in parliament. For us, it’s our lives," one voter said.
