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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) | |
| Voting is under way in Israel in what is expected to be a close race between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's party and a centre-left alliance. | Voting is under way in Israel in what is expected to be a close race 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. |
| At the scene: 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Follow BBC election reporters on Twitter | |
| 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. |
| Mr Netanyahu, 65, fired two key ministers late last year, accusing them of undermining the government, and called early elections to try to form a more stable coalition. | |
| Opinion polls published before the weekend suggested that the Zionist Union was likely to win the most seats, though it may 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 [right-wing] government," he said. | 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 [right-wing] government," he said. |
| Zionist Union leader Yitzhak Herzog said his rival represented the "path of despair and disappointment". | Zionist Union leader Yitzhak 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. | "Whoever wants change, hope, and really a better future for Israel, will vote the Zionist Camp," he said. |
| The main players | The main players |
| Who are the key candidates? | Who are the key candidates? |
| An end or new era for Netanyahu? | |
| Will the outcome revive the peace process? | |
| By 10:00 voter turnout stood at 13.7%, 2.25% higher than in the previous election at same time, the Central Elections Committee said. | By 10:00 voter turnout stood at 13.7%, 2.25% higher than in the previous election at same time, the Central Elections Committee said. |
| 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. |
| Mr Herzog has accused Mr Netanyahu of "panicking". | Mr Herzog has accused Mr Netanyahu of "panicking". |
| Visiting the Western Wall, one of the holiest sites in Judaism, on Sunday, he pledged to "safeguard Jerusalem and its residents in actions, not just words, more than any other leader". | |
| Israel election | Israel election |