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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Israel election: Netanyahu seeks new term in tight race | Israel election: Netanyahu seeks new term in tight race |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Polls have opened in Israel in what is expected to be a close contest between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party and a centre-left alliance. | Polls have opened in Israel in what is expected to be a close contest between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party and a centre-left alliance. |
| The centre-left Zionist Union promises to repair relations with Palestinians and the international community. | The centre-left Zionist Union promises to repair relations with Palestinians and the international community. |
| Mr Netanyahu, whose party has trailed in opinion polls, vowed on Monday not to allow the creation of a Palestinian state if he wins a fourth term. | Mr Netanyahu, whose party has trailed in opinion polls, vowed on Monday not to allow the creation of a Palestinian state if he wins a fourth term. |
| The economy and living standards have emerged as key issues. | The economy and living standards have emerged as key issues. |
| Polls opened at 07:00 (05:00 GMT) and are due to close at 22:00. | Polls opened at 07:00 (05:00 GMT) and are due to close at 22:00. |
| Results could be declared soon afterwards, but a lengthy period of negotiations over the formation of the next coalition government may follow. | Results could be declared soon afterwards, but a lengthy period of negotiations over the formation of the next coalition government may follow. |
| By Mark Lowen, BBC News, Jerusalem | |
| Under a sunny Jerusalem sky, voters have been turning out at a polling station surrounded by election posters, party volunteers on hand for a last-minute push. Among them is the banner of Likud, the right-wing party of Benjamin Netanyahu, with the slogan "It's us or them… only Likud". | |
| But Israel's Prime Minister for the past six years knows it could well be "them" after today's vote. Behind in the last opinion polls, he faces the political fight of his life. Even if he loses to the opposition Zionist Union, though, he still stands a better chance of building a coalition. The centre of gravity of Israeli politics is largely on the right - the Zionist Union could struggle to find the partners needed for a 61-seat majority. | |
| Mr Netanyahu has campaigned on his core issue of security, shoring up his right wing vote by effectively ruling out a Palestinian state. But for his opponents - and for the majority of voters - the number one issue here is the cost of living that has soared under his watch. And that is where they believe his weakness lies. | |
| No party has ever won an outright majority under Israel's proportional representation voting system, and neither side is expected to get more than a quarter of the votes in Tuesday's election. | No party has ever won an outright majority under Israel's proportional representation voting system, and neither side is expected to get more than a quarter of the votes in Tuesday's election. |
| Opinion polls published before the weekend suggested that the centre-left Zionist Union is likely to win the most seats. | Opinion polls published before the weekend suggested that the centre-left Zionist Union is likely to win the most seats. |
| However, the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Jerusalem says that it might still be possible for Mr Netanyahu to form a coalition government even if his Likud party fails to top the poll. | However, the BBC's Kevin Connolly in Jerusalem says that it might still be possible for Mr Netanyahu to form a coalition government even if his Likud party fails to top the poll. |
| As Mr Netanyahu cast his vote on Tuesday, he ruled out forming a coalition with the Zionist Union: "There will not be a unity government with Labour. I will form a nationalist (rightwing) government," he said. | |
| Mr Herzog said his rival represented the "path of despair and disappointment". | |
| "Whoever wants change, hope, and really a better future for Israel, will vote the Zionist Camp," he said. | |
| The main players | The main players |
| The Israeli election: Who are the key candidates? | The Israeli election: Who are the key candidates? |
| An end or new era for Netanyahu? | An end or new era for Netanyahu? |
| Will the outcome revive the peace process? | Will the outcome revive the peace process? |
| International issues, from Israel's relationship with the United States to concerns over Iran's nuclear programme, have been one focus of the campaign. | International issues, from Israel's relationship with the United States to concerns over Iran's nuclear programme, have been one focus of the campaign. |
| But many of the candidates have concentrated on Israel's socio-economic problems, including the high cost of living and slow economic growth. | But many of the candidates have concentrated on Israel's socio-economic problems, including the high cost of living and slow economic growth. |
| The future of the city of Jerusalem has also been a central election issue. | The future of the city of Jerusalem has also been a central election issue. |
| Mr Netanyahu has consistently accused his centre-left challengers of being willing to relinquish Israel's claim to Jerusalem as its indivisible capital in peace talks with the Palestinians. | Mr Netanyahu has consistently accused his centre-left challengers of being willing to relinquish Israel's claim to Jerusalem as its indivisible capital in peace talks with the Palestinians. |
| On Monday, Mr Netanyahu spoke at the Har Homa Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem and said he was the only person who could ensure the city's security. | On Monday, Mr Netanyahu spoke at the Har Homa Jewish settlement in East Jerusalem and said he was the only person who could ensure the city's security. |
| He said no Palestinian state would be formed were he to remain prime minister. | He said no Palestinian state would be formed were he to remain prime minister. |
| Palestinians seek East Jerusalem - occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East war - as the capital of a future Palestinian state. | Palestinians seek East Jerusalem - occupied by Israel since the 1967 Middle East war - as the capital of a future Palestinian state. |
| But Zionist Union party co-leader Yitzhak Herzog has accused Mr Netanyahu of "panicking". | But Zionist Union party co-leader Yitzhak Herzog has accused Mr Netanyahu of "panicking". |
| Visiting the Western Wall, one of the holiest sites in Judaism, on Sunday, Mr Herzog pledged to "safeguard Jerusalem and its residents in actions, not just words, more than any other leader". | Visiting the Western Wall, one of the holiest sites in Judaism, on Sunday, Mr Herzog pledged to "safeguard Jerusalem and its residents in actions, not just words, more than any other leader". |
| Israel election | Israel election |