NETANYAHU VS GANTZ
Netanyahu is on track to score a fourth straight term — and fifth overall — and break the record for Israel’s longest-serving leader. As a fixture of the Israeli political scene for over three decades, “Bibi” Netanyahu has become the face of Israel on the world stage.
He has run on his reputation as a seasoned statesman, welcoming a line-up of powerful leaders to Jerusalem just weeks before the election and playing up high-profile photo-ops with everyone from Russian President Putin to his close ally and friend President Donald Trump, who has lavished him with a string of political gifts.
Netanyahu sells himself as the only one who can protect Israel from the rising tide of Iranian aggression and accelerate Israel’s global acceptance, nursing diplomatic relations with former adversaries across the Arab world.
But his rule looks more uncertain than ever after the attorney general’s recommendation to indict him on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust.
Allegations that he manipulated the press through shady deals and accepted lavish gifts from his billionaire friends have thrown his rule into jeopardy.
He has denied all charges. Although Netanyahu’s controversial political alliance and the corruption allegations have rattled many Israeli voters — and drawn condemnation from American Jews — it hasn’t quite dented his personality cult. He remains admired by his right-wing, populist base. — AP
Retired army chief Gantz burst onto the political scene just a few months ago, offering himself as an honest alternative to the scandal-plagued Netanyahu and his narrow coalition of ultranationalist and ultrareligious parties.
He joined forces with popular politician Yair Lapid, head of Yesh Atid party, and forged a new centrist party, Blue and White, made up of other former military officers.
The ex-general may be the only one who can compete with Netanyahu’s own security credentials and gain the trust of a society that feels psychologically and geographically under siege.
Gantz has campaigned on his clean record and military pedigree, proclaiming that Israel has “lost its way,” pledging to combat corruption and professing his devotion to state institutions that Netanyahu has assailed.
He has kept his platform vague, however, apparently aiming to reach broad swaths of political moderates. He talks about income inequality, rising home prices and the need for better infrastructure. He criticises Netanyahu for stoking ethnic and religious tensions, and promises to amend the controversial nationstate law that marginalised minorities by declaring Israel the state of the Jewish people alone.
While trafficking in rhetoric of unity and egalitarianism, Gantz is careful not to come off as too dovish. He isn’t specific about plans for engaging with the Palestinian leadership, wary of alienating political hard-liners. — AP