Bibi in fight of his life
Corruption claims stifle Israeli PM’s election chances
JERUSALEM: Israelis had last night begun voting in an unprecedented repeat election which will decide if longtime Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stays in power.
It’s the second election this year, after Mr Netanyahu (pictured) failed to build a coalition following April’s vote and dissolved parliament.
Mr Netanyahu is seeking a fifth term, despite facing several corruption charges.
He faces a stiff challenge from retired military chief Benny Gantz, whose centrist Blue and White party is running even with Mr r Netanyahu’s Likud.
Both parties could struggle to form a majority coalition with smaller allies, though, forcing them into a potential unity government. ernment
With his political career now on the line, Mr Netanyahu has taken a late hard turn to the right, pledging to extend Israeli sovereignty over parts of the West Bank and to annex the Jewish settlements there.
The proposal has sparked a cascade of international condemnation, including from Europe and Saudi Arabia, an influential Arab c country that has q quiet, unofficial ties w with Israel.
The US however, had a mut muted reaction, suggesting Mr Netanyahu co-ordinated his plan with the Americans ahead of time.
He’s also been flaunting his close ties to President Donald Trump and the prospect of a defence pact between their countries shortly after the election.
Mr Gantz is offering himself as an honest alternative to the scandal-plagued prime minister and his narrow coalition of ultranationalist and ultrareligious parties.
Campaigning on rhetoric of unity and egalitarianism, Mr Gantz says he represents a fresh start for Israel and has ruled out joining forces with a prime minister accused of serious crimes.
Israel’s Attorney-General has recommended pressing criminal charges against Mr Netanyahu in three separate corruption cases, pending a long delayed pre-trial hearing scheduled for next month.
Some 6.4 million people are eligible to cast ballots in the election.
The first exit surveys will be released just after polls close, while official results are not expected until late today.
About 18,000 police, security guards and volunteers will be deployed to run the poll.
Opinion polls have indicated another tight race, showing Mr Netanyahu’s Likud and Blue and White winning around 32 seats each in the 120-seat parliament.