Israel holds 5th election since 2019. Here are the main players
- Israeli citizens head to the polls again for a landmark parliamentary election
- Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu hopes to return as prime minister
Israel’s election on Tuesday, the country’s fifth since 2019, largely pits familiar faces against one another in a tight race.
The election is once again seen as a referendum on Netanyahu’s fitness to rule while he faces corruption charges.
One new player has burst onto the scene. Far right politician Itamar Ben-Gvir has been surging in opinion polls and could be key to lifting Netanyahu to victory.
Here’s a look at the main players:
Benjamin Netanyahu
After more than a year in the opposition, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister seeks a return to power while on trial on charges of fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes. His Likud party is projected to remain the largest in the 120-seat Knesset, and he aims for a majority through support of ultra-Orthodox and ultranationalist allies.