LIVE BLOG: Israeli Elections
Israeli polls opened on Tuesday as voters determine whether Israelis still want incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as leader, or will seek change after six years.
With final opinion polls giving centre-left Zionist Union, led by Labor head Isaac Herzog a 3-4 seat lead over Netanyahu, the election could be a nail biter - although whoever wins will depend entirely on the remaining Knesset members and their parties to form the next government.
It is unlikely that the make up of the next government will be clear for at least several days, potentially weeks, but polls have also predicted that the Joint List party, which includes many politicians who are Palestinian citizens of Israel who have been on the political margins for years, is likely to become the third-largest faction in the Knesset and bring the minority into the decision-making mainstream.
Some observers have noted that the focus on the elections has drifted from hard issues - like the economy and security - to focus squarely on whether voters want to keep Netanyahu or not.
Others accentuate the identity politics that underline the Israeli political scene and say that beyond social issues or a Netanyahu referendum, voters will be motivated by their religious and ethnic affiliations.
And then there are a whole segment of Palestinian citizens of Israel who are boycotting the election altogether, many telling Middle East Eye that they believe voting normalises a system of discrimination that does not see them as equal citizens of Israel in comparison to their Jewish Israeli neighbours.
Nearly 6 million voters will be able cast their vote until 8pm GMT. We'll be following developments here with commentary and news. Stay with us for updates throughout the day.
Live Updates
Benjamin Netanyahu has called Jewish Home leader Naftali Bennett to discuss establishing a right-wing coalition government, after exit polls put the prime minister’s Likud party one seat ahead of the Zionist Camp.
Other polls said Likud and the Zionist Camp - led by Isaac Herzog - were equal on 27 seats.
While Netanyahu has moved swiftly to negotiate a coalition government, it remains unclear as to whether he will be able to build a new right-wing administration.
Analysts at the European Council on Foreign Relations have calculated the possible coalitions based on current exit polls.
The first exit polls are in with Likud taking a slight lead:
Note: The infographic is inaccurate. Likud lead with 28 and Zionist Union with 27.
Despite recent reports that Likud could be doing better than expected, Oren Ziv, reporting from the Zionist Union election headquarters says the mood there remains hopeful.
Journalist sources in Israel told MEE that Netanyahu's Likud and the Zionist Union have secured the same amount of seats.
The left-leaning Meretz has not passed the necessary votes threshold to enter parliament, the sources, said which means that Netanyahu could form the next government despite polls having predicted a Zionist Union victory.
The ultra-orthodox Shas party has been reprimanded by Israel’s electoral authorities for handing out leaflets promising “keys to heaven” if people vote for them.
“Those who vote for Shas will go straight to heaven,” said the leaflet, accompanied by an image of the party’s founder and spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.
Haaretz reported that Israeli election laws do not allow political parties to offer religious reward in exchange for votes.
The Israeli daily said Shas were angry were the decision barring their distribution of their leaflets, quoting the party has having said they are “proud of our tradition, enough with the silencing and incitement!”
Ultra-orthodox members of Israel’s Jewish community vote in the city of Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv. Most people at the booths told MEE they were voting for either of the ultra-orthodox parties, Flag of Torah or Shas.
Israelis are usually required to vote in their home towns, which makes voting difficult for all of those working, living or studying in another part of the country. One way to get around this, is to vote at polling stations that are designated for those with special needs or disabilities who cannot travel to cast their vote
All day, long lines formed at these special stations. These photos are taken from one such station in Tel Aviv where many students gathered to cast their ballots.
Netanyahu has lashed out at the electoral commission’s decision to ban his speech this afternoon, saying that "no one will shut us up".
According to Haaretz, Netanyahu posted on his Facebook that: "All day, politicians have been talking in the media. Tzipi, Bougi and Yair Lapid talked in every possible TV studio and issued obvious campaign propaganda. The only one barred from talking over the media – is me. The Likud prime minister."
Earlier in the day the commission ruled his televised address amounted to “illegal propaganda" after a legal challenge from the Zionist Union.
In the latest post Netanyahu also referred to his comments made this morning, which claimed that large numbers of Palestinian voters were flocking to the polls.
Netanyahu had appeared on a Channel 10 talk show earlier in the day.
Socio-economic issues as well as corruption have taken centre-stage in the election so far. Here is a throwback to a speech given back in January by Labor Party MK, Stav Shaffir, the helps to show how heated the debate has been.
Whether Bibi or Buji is elected, MEE Editor-in-Chief David Hearst argues that for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, there is no difference:
"As this conflict goes approaches its eighth decade, it becomes less about maps, borders or the label given to a solution - one state, two state or no state. The essential precursor to any solution - a will to recognise the equal rights of non-Jews to land, water, ports, airspace, oil and gas, fish, in any of the five states that Israel controls - is absent. Whether that refusal is best represented by a Bibi who says no concessions or a Buji whose idea of an ideal world is that Israel keeps all of the land it has occupied, I leave that for others to judge."
The European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) has produced a graphic showing their predictions potential coalitions that could make up the post-election government in Israel:
In a video post on his Facebook page, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged his supporters page to head to the polls and vote for the Likud party.
"The right-wing government is in danger. Arab voters are coming out in droves to the polls. Left-wing organizations are bussing them out… we have only you. Get out to vote, bring your friends and family, vote Likud," he urged.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked American iconic action hero Chuck Norris for support the actor gave in a video posted on YouTube:
"I watched Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech before Congress, and I saw a man who loves his country with all his heart and soul. I also saw a strong leader that is absolutely crucial for the safety of the Israeli people," said Norris.
"I have done three movies in Israel - Delta Force being my favourite - and I formed many friendships while there. You have an incredible country, and we want to keep it that way," he added.
