Israel election: is this the beginning of the end of Benjamin Netanyahu’s reign?
- Novice ex-general Benny Gantz mounts strong challenge that could dethrone the prime minister
- Should Netanyahu win, he will be on track to surpass founding father David Ben-Gurion as Israel’s longest-serving prime minister
Israelis have started voting in a high-stakes election that will decide whether to extend Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long right-wing tenure despite corruption allegations or to replace him with an ex-military chief new to politics.
The vote is expected to be close and likely lead to frantic negotiations to form a coalition government once results are in, with opinion polls having shown Netanyahu best placed to do so.
Polls were to close at 10pm Tuesday (3am Hong Kong time) in most areas, with final results not expected until early Wednesday.
Netanyahu voted in Jerusalem with his wife, Sara. He called on all Israelis to vote.
“This is a sacred act, the essence of democracy, and we should be thankful for that,” he said at the school where he voted. “You need to choose well, but I can’t tell you for whom. Or I can, but I’m not going to. God willing, Israel will win.”