Occupied West Bank under lockdown as Israeli voters go to the polls (again)

Netanyahu eyes a comeback but predictions are for another dead heat

The occupied West Bank will be under 24-hour lockdown on Tuesday as Israeli voters go to the polls for the fifth election in four years.

Israeli security authorities closed all the West Bank and Gaza Strip crossings with Israel until midnight on Nov. 1, amid reports that Palestinian militants were planning attacks to disrupt polling day.

Israeli intelligence services claimed to have received about 100 security warnings over the past few days about possible armed attacks against Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank. In response, the state of alert in Jerusalem was raised to the maximum level and Israeli military forces in Hebron were reinforced.

As a result of the lockdown more than 130,000 Palestinian workers will be unable to enter Israel on Tuesday, and the import and export of goods will be halted. The already fragile Palestinian economy is expected suffer several hundred thousand dollars in losses.

Meanwhile, opinion polls suggested that the most likely result of Tuesday’s election is yet another election. As former Prime Minister Benjamin

Netanyahu eyes a comeback, his bloc was predicted to win 60 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, with 56 seats for anti-Netanyahu parties and four seats for an alliance of Arab-led parties that is not expected to back any coalition government.

If no bloc wins 61 seats, Israel could be headed for an unprecedented sixth election early next year.

Netanyahu has been weakened by his continuing trial on corruption charges. To form a government he would need the support of Itamar Ben-Gvir, a notorious anti-Arab extremist who has called for Israel to annex the West Bank.

“We are sure the Israeli election will not bring a partner for peace,” Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shttayeh said on Monday.