Voting has begun in Israel as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu seeks re-election under the weight of an imminent corruption trial, but the country’s third ballot in less than a year predicted to end in another deadlock.
The election follows inconclusive votes in April and September that dimmed an aura of political invincibility enjoyed by Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, who has denied any wrongdoing in the three graft cases against him.
Opinion polls show neither Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud nor the centrist Blue and White party of his main challenger, former armed forces chief Benny Gantz, securing enough votes on their own, or with coalition allies, for a governing majority in parliament.
Polls opened at 7 am local time (1600 AEDT).
Israelis have until 10 pm (0700 AEDT Tuesday) to cast their vote, at which point media outlets can publish the first exit polls and signal whether the deadlock was broken.
More stalemate could push Israel, where a 2020 budget is still pending, further into economic limbo.
Turnout figures will be watched closely, particularly given the concern over the global coronavirus outbreak and accusations of malicious rumours about contamination in areas seen as strongholds for particular parties.
Voters under home-quarantine, such as those who have recently travelled back to Israel from coronavirus hot spots, can attend special polling stations if they wear a surgical masks and show no sign of the disease.
Israel’s economy has weathered the political turmoil, with growth strong and the labour market tight.
Read the article by Jeffrey Heller in the Western Advocate and The Canberra Times.